South Kitsap upsets Bellarmine Prep again

Before the season started, South Kitsap's girls soccer team set a goal of winning a Narrows League championship.

First-year coach Julie Cain now is pushing them to raise those expectations.

That's because the Wolves defeated No. 2 Bellarmine Prep for a second consecutive year with a 2-0 victory Tuesday night in Narrows League play in Tacoma.

South (6-0-0 overall, 4-0-0 league) made it look easy this time. The Wolves controlled the ball for most of the match, particularly in the first half. They scored their first goal in the 20th minute when senior outside back Brianna Waldron converted a penalty kick.

Waldron said she often takes penalty kicks for her club team, Washington Premier, and feels comfortable in those situations.

But as good as Waldron's kick was, her work on the defensive side might have been better. Cain said Holly McKendrick — her player of the game — Miranda Caballero, Kelsey Callaghan and Waldron all were outstanding on the defensive side in addition to goalkeeper Holly Sieler, who made several second-half saves to preserve the shutout.

"She played awesome," Waldron said about Sieler. "She really owned it."

Before the match, Cain talked with her team about the contrasting styles between the Wolves and Bellarmine Prep (7-1-1, 2-1-0).

"They play a very direct game with balls in the air," she said. "We play a possession game with balls on the ground. We made them play our game."

That continued into the second half when freshman forward Becca Schoales took her own rebound and scored in the 51st minute.

"We're moving the ball so well," Cain said. "We're attacking from all sides."

The win came nearly a year after what was believed to be the first victory in program history against Bellarmine Prep. Outside-midfielder Kaurie Wiggins took a 35-yard cross from then-sophomore Callaghan and first-touched it into the back of the net as the Wolves upset No. 2-ranked Bellarmine Prep 1-0 to give the Wolves a 1-0 win Sept. 30, 2008, at Joe Knowles Field.

But the Lions still won the league championship, while South finished tied for third place with a 7-2-1 league mark.

Waldron feels confident her team can avoid a similar letdown.

"We just have to make sure every game we bring the same intensity," she said.

Cain cited another factor.

"I think we're there," she said. "Every game we're improving."

Tuesday

South Kitsap 2, at Bellarmine Prep 0

First half: 1, South Kitsap, Brianna Waldron (penalty kick), 20th minute.

Second half: 2, South Kitsap, Becca Schoales, 51st.

Contact Port Orchard Independent Staff Writer Chris Chancellor at cchancellor@portorchardindependent.com or (360) 876-4414.

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