No. 1 Kendall wins state soccer championship

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall players and coaches proudly display the plaque and medals they earned by capturing the state Class D soccer championship.

For the underclassmen dominated Kendall High girls varsity soccer team this fall was a season for the ages.

Boasting a lineup which included 7 freshmen, 5 sophomores, 4 juniors and only 3 seniors, the Lady Eagles made school history by going 7-0 in postseason play to capture Kendall’s first state soccer championship.

The history making run saw the Lady Eagles give up only 2 goals in the seven outings while registering 5 shutouts, including the Section V state qualifier (2-0 over Hinsdale), the Far West Regional (1-0 over North Collins), the state semifinal (2-0 over Cincinnatus) and the state championship (1-0 over Fort Ann).

Sophomores Lizzy Woodams and Brianna Wakefield took turns scoring the goals against Hinsdale. Junior Hailee Mitchell, who scored a team leading 30 goals on the season, then accounted for the tallies in the three state playoff games.

Mitchell scored with just 3:48 remaining to earn the narrow win over North Collins, She then scored twice in the first half to key the state semi win. Continuing to show a flare for the dramatic, Kendall then captured the state title when Mitchell  who was named state Class D Player of the Year, scored the lone goal with 17: 59 remaining in the second half.

Kendall junior center defender Lizzie Sutphen was also named to the state Class D first team and Coach Pam Barchett earned Class D Coach of the Year honors.

Junior midfielder Hailee Mitchell scored Kendall’s goals in the state semis and finals. Action here is from the championship win over Fort Ann.