Stanwood Soccer: First State Qualifier Since 2016

Stanwood girls soccer has qualified for the state tournament for the first time since 2016.

The Spartans defeated Edmonds-Woodway 2-0 on Tuesday at Shoreline Stadium in Shoreline to advance to the District 1 3A finals. This win marks the program's first appearance in the state tournament in a decade and its first trip to the district championship game since at least 2008.

Junior Kyler Burke initiated the game's first goal in the second minute. She secured possession near the right corner and attempted a center toward the top of the 18-yard box. The ball deflected to sophomore Kylynn Knodel, who shot on first touch past the goalkeeper to give Stanwood a 1-0 lead. Burke described the moment as a boost to the team's energy from the start.

Senior Kendall Rhodes extended the lead in the 15th minute. A handball in the Edmonds-Woodway box resulted in a penalty kick. Rhodes struck the ball to the right side, and although Warriors goalkeeper Morgan Smith touched it with both hands, the ball rolled into the net. Rhodes said she relies on confidence and power when taking such shots, believing the goalkeeper cannot predict her direction.

Head coach Olivia Lee noted that the team's improvement stems from a shift toward a possession-based style that moves the ball quickly. In her third season, Lee inherited a program that had recorded losing records in the previous three years. The Spartans finished 7-8-2 in 2023, 6-10-1 in 2024, and 7-10-0 in the season before last. This year, they topped the Wesco North 3A/2A standings with a 10-1-1 league record.

The defense and goalkeeper Bella Braley secured the victory in the second half. Harriss cleared a counterattack in the 47th minute, and Braley made a double-save in the 54th. She stopped a shot from Bella Dreitzler and knocked away the rebound from Izzy Han. Braley made another physical stop on Dreitzler approximately 15 minutes later, remaining on the ground briefly before returning to her position.

Edmonds-Woodway coach Kim Plumis identified Burke as a dangerous player during preparation but admitted the team had limited information on the Spartans prior to the match. The Warriors will attempt to secure a state berth in the consolation bracket, starting with a match against Shorewood on Thursday.

Stanwood faces Shorecrest in the district championship on Saturday at Shoreline Stadium. While the team has already secured a state berth, the squad aims to win the district title to conclude their season with a trophy.