Eatonville Cruiser girls soccer battles to districts with Gritty Week of Play

The Eatonville Cruiser girls soccer team concluded a high-stakes week with three intense matchups, sealing their place in district play.

On Monday, the Cruisers faced a tough away challenge against the second place Steilacoom Sentinels. Deadlocked at 0-0 after the first half, Eatonville made critical halftime adjustments that sparked the team’s offense. Midway through the second half, Linnea Lofgren delivered a precise assist to Kalli Olson, who broke the tie with a well-placed shot. However, the Sentinels responded quickly, equalizing just minutes later. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Eatonville returned home Tuesday for a special Senior Night matchup against Orting, where the team honored seniors Haley Courson, Mary Van Eaton, Hannah Hanson, Caedee Dunn and Tierney Amaral. The celebration turned into a wake-up call as Orting struck early, scoring within the first 30 seconds to take a 1-0 lead. The early deficit sparked the Cruisers into action as they took control of possession and tempo, dominating the remainder of the game. Early in the second half, Eatonville equalized with relentless pressure and generated multiple scoring opportunities, but neither side could find the net again. The game concluded in a 1-1 draw, capping an emotional night for the Cruisers’ senior players.

The 7th seeded Cruisers hosted the 10th seeded Sequim Wolves in the first round of the West Central District 3 playoffs on Saturday. With damp, challenging field conditions, both teams struggled to build momentum. As the clock wound down, Eatonville capitalized on a critical defensive lapse by Sequim. Courson seized the opportunity, netting the game’s lone goal with just 12 minutes remaining. The Cruisers' defense held firm to secure a 1-0 victory, sending Eatonville into the second round of the double-elimination district bracket.

With a week of hard-fought games behind them, the 7th seeded Cruisers advance to face the 2nd seeded Fife Trojans in the second round district match, scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. Results of that match were not available prior to press time.