Edenstrom suffered a season-ending knee injury a week ago against Wilson, dampening the Cougars’ spirits, but they haven’t skipped a beat.
Capital’s 4-1 victory over Timberline at Ingersoll Stadium on Tuesday night not only clinched the 3A Narrows League girls soccer crown for the second consecutive season, but it also extended the Cougars’ winning streak to eight games.
“I am so proud of them,” first-year Capital coach Adriana Montes said. “Every game they play is their game and their season. This team has built great chemistry between each other. Every player on that field, when they step on, it’s going to be a challenge for the other team.”
As champions of the 3A Narrows, Capital (12-1-2 overall, 9-0 3A Narrows) also will be the league’s No. 1 seed into the West Central District III bi-district tournament.
Following Thursday’s regular-season finale against Yelm, the Cougars will have nine days off before playing a winner-to-state district tournament game at 3 p.m. Nov. 4 at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner. The opponent has yet to be determined.
Rachel Crowe scored two goals, including a beautiful shot from the right side that gave Capital a 3-0 lead the 62nd minute. Eight minutes later, Julie Stohr made it 4-0.
Montes said Edenstrom’s injury is not severe but will need time to heal. Her replacement in the starting lineup has been sophomore Kaelyn Murray, who tallied the Cougars’ second goal on a shot from 15 yards out on a breakaway in the 27th minute.
“She’s definitely improved a lot as a player” Montes said of Murray. “She’s definitely going to be a strength for us. She’s fast, quick, aggressive and very goal-oriented.”
Capital’s defense has been its strong point, giving up a league-low four goals in league play. The defense has three shutouts in its past seven games, and didn’t allow the Blazers (7-6-1, 6-3) to generate much offense aside from a late goal from Libby Kamrowski, her eighth on the season, in the 77th minute. Capital outshot Timberline, 14-5.
“To our discredit, we didn’t come out like we needed to, to give them a good challenge,” Timberline coach Jeff Peltier said.
Despite ending their three-game winning streak, the Blazers have already clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive year.
Wilson, which also has clinched a playoff berth, is tied with Timberline as the two teams play Thursday in Tacoma.
If the Blazers beat Wilson, which defeated Timberline, 4-1, earlier this month, they will secure the No. 2 seed into district. If the Blazers tie or lose, Wilson gets the second seed and Timberline is No. 3. The top three teams advance to the district tournament.
“These kids sometimes really surprise me and bounce back after disappointments and do a really nice job of that,” Peltier said. “We’ll see where their heads are at when we get to Thursday.”
Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473 mwochnick@theolympian.com
