Adna, Tenino Represented on All-State Girls Soccer Team

Adna had five players and a coach and Tenino had two players named to the All-State girls soccer teams released last week as voted on by the Washington State Soccer Coaches Association.

The third place Pirates had five athletes named to the 1B/2B first team and coach Juli Aselton was named the coach of the year. Aselton has coached the Pirates to the final four for the past six seasons, finishing in third place four times and fourth place twice.

“It was pretty surprising seeing as how we weren’t in the top two in state,” Aselton said. “It’s really nice they’d consider me for that. There’s a lot of good coaches out there.”

Juniors Payton Aselton and Cierra Swenson were named first team forwards. Aselton scored 22 goals on 87 shots and recorded 16 assists and Swenson scored 26 goals on 66 shots, including three game winning goals and added four assists. Swenson and Aselton were both named to the Central 2B League first team.

“It was one of those goals that she’s given to herself,” Juli said about Payton. “If she got something last year, she really has to work to get it the following year and she worked hard for it. It’s good she’s getting recognized for her quality of play.”

Juli Aselton also noted the way that Swenson and Payton Aselton were able to work so well together up front this season.

“It’s really good. Payton and Cierra worked really well together,” Aselton said. “Cierra did a great job with that. All the captains would get together at school and talk, like what play can we work on? There was a lot of companionship this year. She (Cierra) never gives up, she’s a go getter.”

Rachel Burke was named a first team midfielder and Brynn Arrington was named a first team defender. Burke, a senior, scored nine goals and two assists and had game winning goals against Kalama and Ocosta this season. Burke is going to Washington State University next year.

“I know that she’s thrilled to have this in her senior year. She just doesn’t stop. Whether it’s in practice or a game, she gives it all she’s got,” Aselton said. “She was really surprised, but after four years of hard work, she felt so good she made the first team.”

Aselton lamented the difficult task it will be to replace Burke in the midfield next season.

Arrington, a junior, was a team captain and played defense for Adna, scoring three goals and three assists, including the game winning goal in the state playoff game against Friday Harbor.

“She was definitely a leader. A lot of our defenders were quiet girls but she gave the younger girls a lot of direction,” Aselton said. “In fact, one of the awards the team voted on was who was somebody that was a leader on the team that gave you good advice. Brynn was one of those girls. Anyone on the team could ask her for help and she was really impartial and wants them to do good.”

Meister was named the first team goalkeeper of the All-State 2B team, allowing just five goals and accumulating a save percentage of 90. The junior keeper had 16 shutouts and 18 wins and was a first team all-league goalie.

“She gets more confidence every year. She’s done a great job every year,” Aselton said. “She has the tendency to not get a lot of shots, but she’s always in the right place when they do get a shot. Her goal kick has been great, it’s nice to have a goalie take those kicks.”

With four juniors on the all-state team, Aselton is excited about the players she has returning to the Pirates next season.

“It’s fantastic. It’s so nice to look at new kids coming in but you’ve already got something solid in place that you can add pieces to these girls and learn a few more plays,” Aselton said. “You’re not starting brand new with everybody. I’ll be pretty blessed next year with keeping a lot of those juniors on the team. It will be pretty exciting.”

Tenino sophomore Brieanna Dell was named a first team forward on the 1A All-State girls soccer team. Dell totaled 25 goals and five assists and had six hat tricks.

“It’s really cool. Obviously, as just a sophomore, that’s tough to do. You want a player to grow as they continue to go forward,” Tenino coach Kevin Schultz said. “She definitely earned it and had a really great year. She was really important for us and had some really big games as well.”

In the Beavers first game of the season, Dell scored six goals and even Schultz, who has known Dell since she was nine years old, was impressed by the performance.

“I’ve seen her play at the club level. In high school, she’s a special player,” Schultz said. “She’s only going to get stronger and faster.”

Kershaw was the senior leader for the Beavers this season. Scoring eight goals and eight assists, she earned first team all-league honors and was a key piece in Tenino’s run to the state tournament this season.

“She was the leader of the team and the leader of the seniors. Everything went through her,” Schultz said. “We let her create and she was also working back and helping out defensively. She was an important two-way player.”

Being a first year coach, Schultz noted Kershaw was not only great on the field, she was great off the field, including gathering players together for summer practices and team events.

“She was good at setting right tempo and having a great attitude in practice and working hard,” Schultz said. “She’s a really good person and a citizen of the community. She helped organize a lot of team building and team dinners and the senior parents did a good job of organizing all that stuff.”

Kershaw hopes to play soccer in college and is playing in a showcase this weekend in hopes of landing an offer.