The Sumner girls soccer team defended its state title on Saturday beating the Bellingham Red Raiders 2-0.

Friday, the Spartans beat the West Valley Rams from Yakima 1-0 in the semifinals to advance to the state championship game for the second year in a row.

Defender Kinsey Saiz scored first for the Spartans against Bellingham with 13:10 to play in the first half.

The Spartans battled a more physical team in Bellingham during the first half but still managed to go into halftime leading 1-0.

At halftime, Sumner led in shots on goal 5-2 and Bellingham led in corner kicks 4-1.

“We came out flat and a little nervous in the first half,” coach  Robi Turley said. “But the team came out playing hard in the second half.”

Defender/midfielder Alyssa Murray agreed with Turley.

“It is so exciting; we knew we could do it,” she said. “We came out with more intensity in the second half.”

Turley said the Bellingham team was more physical, but the Spartans adapted and its team speed carried the game.

The Spartans second goal of the night came from 20 yards out on a kick by defender/forward Jordan Thompson, a freshman, with 30:30 to go in the game.

“This was a great year,” Turley said. “There was a lot of pressure after winning state last year.”

Turley said winning a second title was more difficult. “It’s never been done in school history.”

The coach said two overtime victories during the regular season against White River and Steilacoom gave the girls the momentum in the drive for the championship.

The Spartans ended its season 13-1-0 in league play and 18-2-1 overall.