The Cashmere girls soccer team found itself on the doorstep of the Class 1A state championship last season. This year, the Bulldogs believe they can take the next step.

Head coach Dennis Tronson returned seven starters from the team that finished fourth in 2024, and he believes they are primed for another deep playoff run.

“I feel like we have a group that can get us back to the final four,” said Tronson, now in his 29th year. 

“It just depends on the matchups. Once you get to state, everyone can beat you, and every level of the tournament is a different animal.”

Pending the result of Tuesday night’s home game against fifth-place Zillah, Cashmere (14-1 league, 14-2 overall) is likely to begin SCAC district tournament play Thursday as the No. 1 seed. The only conference loss for the Bulldogs, who are sixth in the WIAA's RPI, came at the hands of 2024 district champ Naches Valley, which humbled them on Oct. 16 by a score of 5-0.

Tronson believes his team will be up to the challenge if they face the No. 5-RPI Rangers in the district title game on Nov. 8.

“We’re very evenly matched, but the difference was they finished their chances and we didn’t,” the coach said. “If we had played the first 60 minutes like we did the last 20, it could have been a different story. But they got off to a fast start and we just didn’t have an answer that day.”

The Bulldogs’ offense relies heavily on juniors Brynne Patrick (19 goals, 10 assists) and Gwen 

Ledesma (16 goals), a first-team all-state selection last season. Patrick was an honorable mention all-state defender in 2024 who moved into an attacking role when junior forward Sydney McIver went down with a knee injury in the first game.

“Sydney scored 21 goals for us last season, so we had to reorganize quickly to fill her spot,” Tronson said. “But the girls have done an awesome job of responding to that loss.”

Senior captains Erin Irelan, Alyssa Soria and Anna Flick provide experience and leadership, while sophomore Makelah Gatens and junior Addie Talley add an offensive punch. Senior goalkeeper Ellie Creiglow has maintained a strong presence in the box, recording eight shutouts.

As the Bulldogs prepare for the postseason, they feel like they are better prepared than most teams because they’ve been there, done that.

“Until you get to the final four, you don’t know what it’s like,” Tronson said. “But this group has been there before, and we feel like we have what it takes to get back.”

East Valley on a roll

In the Class 2A ranks, few teams have been able to match East Valley’s strength down the stretch. 

The No. 5-RPI Red Devils have won eight games in a row and sit at 15-1-1 heading into Saturday’s District 5 semifinals against either Prosser or Quincy.

Led by prolific senior goal-scorer Ariana Lopez, East Valley has racked up 66 goals in all competitions — 36 of them by Lopez, a Division I college recruit.

“Ariana is the standout, there’s no question,” EV coach Tim Ostrander said. “Teams try different things to stop her and she just overcomes it. She’s a really special player.”

The Red Devils rely on a balanced supporting cast that includes sophomore forward Natalie Mendoza (eight goals, 13 assists), senior forward Itzelle Barragan (nine goals) and sophomore midfielder Mia 

Garcia (six goals, five assists).

Mendoza was a first-team all-CWAC selection as a freshman and has continued her development this season.

“Nat has a lot of speed and skill, and she’s been a huge playmaker for us,” Ostrander said.

Senior goalkeeper Kate Ketcham was a second-team all-CWAC pick last season, along with juniors 

Allison Fries (mid) and Becca Swearingen (defense). Senior forward Giselle Acevedo received all-league honorable mention in 2024, while senior defensive midfielder Yube Calderon has raised her game considerably over the past year.

“Yube can play in a lot of different spots and she’s one of our best marking defenders,” Ostrander said. “She plays physical and wins a lot of balls, and we rely on her to be a presence in the middle.”

The Red Devils are hoping to return to state after missing out last season following a loss to West Valley-Spokane in a winner-to-state crossover. Ostrander feels like this senior-heavy group has enough experience to get the program over the hump.

“We’re feeling good and we have a lot of momentum going into districts,” he said before last Saturday’s 5-1 win over Ephrata in the first round. “We have a lot of senior leadership, and we will definitely lean on that in the playoffs. But once you get to the postseason, everything gets magnified. You have to be ready for anything.”

Home stretch for CBBN

The Class 4A Big Nine conference is finishing up its regular season this week, with Wenatchee holding a two-game cushion over second-place Eastmont heading into Wednesday’s cross-town showdown.

The Panthers (9-1 CBBN, 12-1-1 overall), fifth in the RPI, have won the past three district tournaments and are hoping to make it four in a row when the district tournament kicks off next week.

Eisenhower sits in third place at 7-4, a half-game behind Eastmont (7-3) and a half-game ahead of Moses Lake (6-4). Ike and Moses Lake square off Tuesday in a game that will help determine district seeding.

West Valley is 4-6 heading into Tuesday’s matchup with 2-8 Sunnyside, but the Rams fell to the Grizzlies in the teams’ first meeting on Sept. 30. Sunnyside is coming off a 4-0 win over last-place Davis on Saturday, improving to 4-8-1 overall — the team’s best record in years.