After a hard fought season filled with highs and lows, the Camas High School (CHS) girls soccer team’s season came to an end after losing in the quarterfinals of the state tournament to Issaquah. 

The game against Issaquah came with an immense amount of pressure for the CHS girls soccer team. The last time the two played was in the state championship the prior year, so the Issaquah team was out to get revenge. There was also a huge height advantage for Issaquah, which was one of the reasons that CHS was defeated. While the odds were against them, CHS was still able to fight hard and kept the game close. 

“[Our] team is fantastic. It’s one of the most cohesive competitive sports teams I’ve ever played on. We’ve all become closer throughout the season because we spend early mornings and late nights fighting for one common goal,” Kvistad said. 

The girls had a spectacular season this year, boasting a 16-1-2 record with their only loss coming in their first preseason game versus a very good Jesuit team. After the loss, their season only improved as they swept the league by going undefeated in conference games. A highlight from the season was their series sweep of Union, winning 2-0 in the first game and 1-0 in the second game. However, once in the state tournament, records mean nothing. Every team deserves to be there and every game is hard fought. 

“I’m really proud of everyone this year. Playing a sport six days a week, where several of those days are games, is not easy. Driving home from Olympia on a school night means returning past midnight, and it’s mentally and physically exhausting. Our ability to persevere shows the strength of our team. It’s tough, but we’re tougher,” junior Savannah Kvistad said. 

One of the reasons that the CHS girls soccer team has been so successful this year is due to the great chemistry that the team has developed. Some of the girls this year played on the same club team, so they have developed chemistry throughout the year that helps them perform well during the high school season. 

“I think that the team was brought closer over the year because of the leadership of our captains. Keely Wieczorek and Madeline Johnson did an amazing job of keeping us focused while also having a lot of fun,” senior Nora Melcher said. 

While the season ended in defeat for the CHS girls soccer team, the season was still a success. CHS was able to win many tough games throughout the year, including winning the league title. The season also created many memories that the girls will remember for the rest of their lives. 

“My favorite moment this season was senior night. First of all, when we were getting announced before the game, our teammates started crying because they were going to miss us next year. Then, my best friend and outstanding teammate, Addie Wunderli, scored two goals and I cried because I was so excited. Not to mention, everyone was really happy for her and appreciative of all the effort she puts in,” Melcher said.