Two former Shoreline District standouts have helped the University of Puget Sound women’s soccer team advance deep into the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Shorecrest High School graduate Alek White and Shorewood grad Lea John are part of a once-beaten UPS squad that captured a second consecutive West Regional title last weekend.
John netted the winning goal in a 2-0 shutout of Loras College in the Nov. 16 championship match in Dubuque, Iowa. The freshman center midfielder finished off teammate Kelsey Lau’s corner kick in the 50th minute.
The win was the seventh straight for the third-ranked Loggers (18-1-1) and established a UPS record for most victories in a single season.
“We play really well as a team. If you look at the stats, it’s not one person who’s scoring all the goals,” said John, who earned Puget Sound’s athlete of the week honor for her performance at regionals.
Up next, the Tacoma school will put its 41-match home winning streak on the line against the University of Chicago (16-1-3) at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Peyton Field.
Ranked 10th in the nation, Chicago outlasted Wheaton College in a shootout to claim the Central Region crown.
Defense has been the difference for the Loggers, who have posted five shutouts in a row and 12 overall this fall. Against Loras, UPS allowed just four shots — all in the first half — and sophomore goalkeeper Erin Williams was called on for just one save.
“It’s a team effort,” said White, a junior defender. “Defense starts with the forwards forcing the ball to the middle. Anything that gets through, our defense cleans up.”
Seven seniors graduated off last year’s Elite Eight team and just four players who saw significant time for the Loggers returned.
With so many newcomers taking on key roles, White wasn’t sure what to expect at the beginning of the season. But the pieces quickly came together and the Loggers got off to a 7-0 start en route to a second straight Northwest Conference championship.
“It took us awhile to find our style,” White said. “We’re real head-strong, but relaxed at the same time. On the field, everyone can read each other real well.”
John agreed.
“Everyone mixes pretty well,” she added. “We have good chemistry. It’s a good combination of girls.”
Part of the reason this year’s team has been able to strike up such a strong connection and continue the program’s postseason success is a trimmed down roster.
“We’re a small team,” White said. “We’ve only got 18 players, so we’ve gotten real close on the field and off.”
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