Glacier Peak’s Aaliyah Collins celebrates her goal with Kate Sprink (right) as Abigail Varghese (left) looks on during the Grizzlies’ 5-1 win over Jackson on Tuesday night. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Glacier Peak’s Aaliyah Collins celebrates her goal with Kate Sprink (right) as Abigail Varghese (left) looks on during the Grizzlies’ 5-1 win over Jackson on Tuesday night. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Glacier Peak routs Jackson in Wesco 4A girls soccer showdown

The upstart Grizzlies roll to a 5-1 win, ending the Timberwolves’ 17-match conference unbeaten streak.

SNOHOMISH — With its first three conference matches coming against Wesco 4A’s top three finishers from last season, this young but talented Glacier Peak High School girls soccer team was going to find out quickly just how good it is.

And after beating all three teams — punctuated by Tuesday night’s rout of the five-time defending Wesco 4A champions — the Grizzlies left no doubt about it.

They’re for real.

Freshman Ryann Reynolds scored two goals and added two assists as Glacier Peak ended Jackson’s 17-match conference unbeaten streak in emphatic fashion with a 5-1 victory over the visiting Timberwolves in an early-season Wesco 4A clash.

“Jackson always brings a great team, and our kids always get fired up to play them,” Grizzlies coach Melinda Torre said. “They’ve had our number for the past couple years, and my kids just put it together tonight. It felt really good to see their potential realized.”

Chloe Seelhoff added one goal and one assist for Glacier Peak (4-0-1 overall, 3-0 Wesco 4A), which broke a 2-1 match wide-open during a second-half flurry of three goals in 11 minutes.

“Their movement off the ball was really good,” Torre said. “… (And) we’ve got goals coming from a number of different (players) now. That makes it super fun.”

A ROARING START TO THE YEAR

The Grizzlies entered this season with high hopes after a league change for the Redmond-based Crossfire Premier club soccer program allowed a trio of elite underclassmen — Reynolds, Seelhoff and Kate Sprink — to play high school soccer for Glacier Peak this fall.

The Grizzlies got off to a strong start in conference play last week with a 3-1 win over Lake Stevens and a 2-1 triumph over Kamiak. But the real measuring stick was perennial power Jackson, and Glacier Peak certainly passed that test with flying colors.

The Grizzlies handed the Timberwolves (3-2, 2-1) their first Wesco 4A loss since October 2017 and their worst conference defeat in at least eight years.

“This year has been phenomenal,” Glacier Peak junior Annika Lambott said. “The way we’ve been playing and our chemistry as a team is just insane. And being able to go out on the field (tonight) and show what we’ve got is just awesome.”

FIRST-HALF FIREWORKS

Jackson senior Katie Cheng opened the scoring with a left-footed strike in the 21st minute to give the Timberwolves an early 1-0 lead. It was the fifth goal of the season for the standout forward.

But it didn’t take long for the Grizzlies to respond.

In the 28th minute, Emma Apostolos lofted a corner kick to the far right post and Reynolds one-timed the ball out of the air and into the top shelf of the net for an equalizing score. Reynolds struck again just three minutes later, one-timing a pass from Seelhoff into the lower-right portion of the net to give Glacier Peak a 2-1 lead.

It’s been a spectacular start to the season for Reynolds, who already has six goals and four assists through five matches.

“She’s just a true forward,” Torre said. “She has a nose for the goal, and those are always rare. It’s hard to find people who are center forwards who stay central and stay involved who like to be up there and will shoot every chance she gets.”

GP’S SECOND-HALF ONSLAUGHT

Holding a one-goal lead in the second half, the Grizzlies quickly put the match out of reach.

Glacier Peak showcased nice ball movement during a sequence in the 54th minute, which ended with Lambott receiving a pass from Abigail Varghese and splitting the goalkeeper’s legs to give the Grizzlies a 3-1 lead.

Speedy basketball star Aaliyah Collins extended the margin in the 64th minute, scoring off an assist from Reynolds on a counterattack. Seelhoff then netted a 65th-minute goal off a perfectly executed set-piece pass from Reynolds.

SCORING BALANCE

Reynolds has highlighted a Glacier Peak attack that’s scored 15 goals through five matches, but it’s been far from a one-star show. The Grizzlies already have had eight different goal-scorers and five different players who’ve recorded assists.

“Insane,” Lambott said of her team’s offensive balance. “Anybody on this team can score. … We know that we can all go out and score a goal.”

QUOTABLE

“They come out every practice to get better, and they get on each other and they work for each other and they just love the game. It’s so fun. It makes me want to jump in and play with them. That’s the type of team they are. They’re very dynamic, very outgoing kids, and they have a lot of fun. There’s a lot of joy in their play.”

— Glacier Peak coach Melinda Torre

THE REMATCH

Glacier Peak and Jackson square off again Oct. 17 at Everett Memorial Stadium in what figures to be another pivotal Wesco 4A match.

Box score

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11), a bright spot in the Seattle’s 26-20 loss to the Rams, runs after a catch at Lumen Field on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
Seahawks make big plays, big mistakes in OT loss

Seattle unable to overcome turnovers and one big defensive lapse against LA Rams.

Members of the Arlington High School boys cross country team pose for a photo at the District 1/2 Cross Country Championships at Lakewood High School in Arlington, Wash., on Nov. 2, 2024. The Eagles won the 4A team title. (Taras McCurdie / The Herald)
Teams, runners crowned at District 1/2 XC Championships

Arlington and Shorewood boys, Shorecrest girls teams lift trophies.

Lake Stevens’ Keagan Howard raises the ball in the air in celebration after running into the end zone for a touchdown during the game against Arlington on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington, GP, Lake will host playoff football games

Monroe and Archbishop Murphy will also play home Round of 32 games.

Arlington’s Kaid Hunter makes a catch and runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the game against Lake Stevens on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington upsets Lake Stevens, 28-14

Eagles claim share of Wesco 4A title by taking down the two-time defending state champs.

X
Prep roundup for Saturday, Nov. 2

Lake Stevens girls soccer punches ticket to state

Marysville Pilchuck’s Christian Van Natta lifts the ball in the air to celebrate a turnover during the game against Marysville Getchell on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep football roundup for Friday, Nov. 1

Glacier Peak grabs piece of Wesco 4A football title.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Oct. 20-26

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Oct. 20-26. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Football Athlete of the Week for Oct. 20-26

The Football Athlete of the Week nominees for Oct. 20-26. Voting closes… Continue reading

Mountlake Terrace players run toward each other to celebrate after scoring a goal during the 3A district game against Stanwood on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Hawks escape Spartans 2-1 in district play-in game

Claire August nets two goals, MLT advances to quarterfinals.

Stanwood's Michael Mascotti relays the next play to his teammates during football practice on Monday, Aug. 29, 2022 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Experts make their Week 9 predictions

Our trio takes a crack at picking the winners for this week’s gridiron games.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, Oct. 31

Everett, Shorecrest win district playoff openers

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith talk to teammates in the locker room at Lumen Field prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 27, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks)
Smith says he needs to ‘do a better job’ leading when losing

The Seahawks quarterback hopes to control emotions when the team struggles.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.