Ready to run: Season set for East Jefferson girls soccer team

Posted 8/5/22

Well, it’s almost soccer time in the Sound. With the dogs days of summer almost out of sight, the East Jefferson Rivals girls soccer team is ready to return to action following a stellar season …

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Ready to run: Season set for East Jefferson girls soccer team

Rising junior midfielder Ava Shiflett dribbles onward in an away matchup against Klahowya Secondary School last year. Shiflett was a crucial part of EJ’s potent offense last year, linking passes from the backfield to Rivals scorers.

Leader photo by James Sloan

Posted Friday, August 5, 2022 10:03 am

East Jefferson Rivals girls soccer schedule 2022-23

Game 1 (Sept. 9): Annie Wright Schools, away

Game 2 (Sept. 13): Vashon Island High School, home

Game 3 (Sept. 15): Bellevue Christian High School, away

Game 4 (Sept. 20): Cascade Christian School, home

Game 5 (Sept. 22): Klahowya Secondary School, away

Game 6 (Sept. 27): Charles Wright Academy,home

Game 7 (Oct. 1): Seattle Christian School, home

Game 8 (Oct. 4): Life Christian Academy, away

Game 9 (Oct. 6): Annie Wright Schools, home

Game 10 (Oct. 11): Vashon Island High School, away

Game 11 (Oct. 13): Bellevue Christian High School, home

Game 12 (Oct. 15): Cascade Christian School, away

Game 13 (Oct. 18): Klahowya Secondary School, home

James Sloan
jsloan@ptleader.com

Well, it’s almost soccer time in the Sound. With the dogs days of summer almost out of sight, the East Jefferson Rivals girls soccer team is ready to return to action following a stellar season last year.

The Rivals, consisting of high school athletes from Port Townsend and Chimacum high schools, had their best soccer season in years back in 2021, and this year the girls hope to push even further into the postseason.

EJ finished with a 4-5-3 regular season record before being eliminated from the first round of the Nisqually League playoffs.

While the girls were bummed to fall short in the playoffs, making it to the postseason marked a major accomplishment as the first playoff push for both local schools under the East Jefferson Rivals banner.

This year, the Rivals will be without key senior captains Clare Johnson and Savanna Hoffmann, but rising seniors Izzy McCracken (defender) and Kaylen Pray (winger) will look to lead EJ to greater success. Additionally, juniors Ava Shiflett and Iris Mattern, who both earned Nisqually All-League First Team honors last year, will hope to build on their successes as the Rivals hope to refine their squad and come out with a winning season with Head Coach Robert Cantley.

This year’s schedule is full of rematches with Nisqually League opponents including Vashon Island High, Bellevue Christian High School, Annie Wright Schools, and more. Two matchups sure to be circled on the Rivals’ calendar are home and away games versus Klahowya Secondary School and Vashon Island High, considering that losses to both teams last year eliminated EJ from the postseason.

The girls’ first matchup will come away from home on Sept. 9 against Annie Wright Schools (a team the Rivals won one and tied another with last season) as EJ hopes to start the season on the right foot.

The Rivals will get their first chance at revenge versus Vashon Island in their second match and home opener on Sept. 13.

In Game 5, EJ will face perennial contenders Klahowya Secondary School in Silverdale on Sept. 22. They will face Klahowya for the second time in the final match of the season; a crucial home game on Oct. 18.