For the first time in Wenatchee High School history the girls soccer team secured a spot in the first round of State playoffs after narrowly conquering Eastmont 2-1 on Nov. 5 in double overtime. This season is a complete turnaround from last year, as last year’s team had a record of 4-6 in comparison to this year’s record of 8-2.

“At the beginning of the year, we set a realistic goal and an ultimate goal. Our realistic goal was to win a few games, which we achieved. Our ultimate goal, the one that was mainly just a hope, was to make it to State,” said junior Gabby Waterman.

The team will battle undefeated Moses Lake at the District Championships this Saturday, Nov. 9, at 1 p.m. in Moses Lake. Moses Lake has already defeated the Panthers twice before, each time by one goal. Regardless of a win or a loss on Saturday, the Panthers are guaranteed a spot in the State playoffs.

The team is also Academic State Champions with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.817.

“They have the highest GPA of all the 4A schools in girls soccer… There are about 70 schools,” said Athletic Director BJ Kuntz. “It’s all about the recognition. We’ll send them to the State Championship game, even if they don’t make it that far, and they get to go out on the field during halftime.”

Previously, the Wenatchee team had beaten Eastmont twice before. The game was further complicated by the loss of senior goalie Jackie Bollinger due to a shoulder injury. Junior Ashton Blanksma instead played goalie, shifting junior Hayley Springer to middle. Although Eastmont scored first, senior Olivia Doerr scored on a pass from junior Kate Thies within 11 seconds of the kickoff. Senior Emily Rader scored the winning goal in double overtime again on a pass from Thies.

“In the gym, girls soccer had no placard. Now we’ll have one,” said junior Ali Sealby. “I think it showed how none of us wanted the season to be over yet… and how hard we’ve worked. We all wanted a change from last year.”