The Sumner girls soccer team is picking up traction with a bout of recent wins against Curtis and South Kitsap high schools.
With these wins, the Spartans stand third in the SPSL 4A league behind Olympia and Puyallup.
The team started out the year with seven returning starters, and the rest of the team consisting of new blood or players from the junior varsity ranks.
This year’s top offensive players are junior Sam Larberg and senior Hannah Rowan.
Both Rowan and Larberg contributed to Sumner’s 3-0 victory over Curtis on Oct. 1, with Rowan grabbing two goals and Larberg nabbing the third. This brings Larberg up to a total of five goals this year, and Rowan to four goal and three assists.
Against South Kitsap, the Spartans inched ahead 1-0 with a goal by sophomore Jaylin Borden.
Although the team had seven veteran players taking to the field this year, coach Robi Turley said the physicality and speed of play at the 4A level was a big jump for the girls.
Even so, “We are adjusting well and we have an expectation to make playoffs,” he said, adding that state is going to be a difficult goal, since half the teams in the 4A league made it to state last year.