Storm FC going to national girls soccer finals

Cheney’s U19 girls’ soccer team found out that there is truth in the old adage “It’s not how you start, but how you finish.”

The FC Storm finished about as strong as a team could at regional tournament play last week at 60 Acres Park in Redmond, Wash., June 28 – July 1, taking advantage of eking their way out of pool play to win a spot at the U.S. Club national tournament July 18 – 24 in Denver, Colo. The FC Storm downed the Eastern Washington Surf SC 3-2 to win the 18U/19U Super girls championship after making it into the championship round via goal differential.

The Storm opened with a 4-3 win over Highline Premier SC on June 28, but was shutout the following day by Franklin Pierce SC, 3-0. Cheney tied Wenatchee Premier 1-1 on June 30 to finish Pool B play at 1-1-1.

Storm head coach Brian Scott said his team played well in the finals, possessing the ball, making critical saves and controlling the game with solid midfield play. “They (EW Surf) had to adjust to us,” he added.

A key moment in the game, Scott said, came with 10 minutes remaining and Cheney up 3-2. EW Surf managed a penalty kick opportunity against the Storm – a chance to tie the game thwarted by goalkeeper Jessica Quacquarini’s save.

Cheney has been playing the Washington National Premier League — formerly the Washington State Premier League — since 2014, a league that consists mostly of teams from the Seattle/Puget Sound area, making travel difficult. Scott said they didn’t do as well as hoped during regular season play, but saw improvement and more cohesive play during a regional warm-up tournament in Montana.

Scott attributed some of the Storms’ rough spots to an infusion of five new players who brought some energy and excitement with them to the team. That seems like a memory as the Storm will be the only team from Washington, and likely Idaho and Oregon as well, to represent the Pacific Northwest in national competition at Commerce City outside of Denver.

“It’s been a fun ride and we’re nearing the end,” he said. “We’ll be playing teams from Chicago and any team that won their region. Second place, you don’t get to go.”

While brackets had not been set as of press time, July 9, some of the teams competing in the 18U/19U Super Girls classification include Clovis Crossfire from California, NASA Top Hat from Georgia, Manhattan SC from New York along with the Windy City Pride and Chicago Empire from Illinois.

The Cheney Storm FC are composed of Allison Adams, Katelyn Alderson, Makenna Benson, Jocelyn Cone, Aubree Dennstaedt, Kailey Estrellado, Grace Hammermeister, Mackenzie Huotari, Jalaina Jacobsen, Abigail Kasparek, Megan Little, Jordyn McFarland, Jessica Quacquarini, Shelby Rowley, Emma Scott, Darby Soliday, Kaitlin Teeters and Lauryn Woller. The Storm are coached by Brian Scott and Benji Estrellado.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].