The Eisenhower girls soccer team isn’t counting its chickens just yet. But last Saturday’s 5-0 victory over four-time defending district champion Wenatchee — on the road, no less — showed the Cadets that they have what it takes to win the program’s first league championship since 2000.

Senior team leader Vianey Esquivel — who set the program's scoring record earlier this season — scored twice and sophomore standout Aiyanna Ochoa also tallied a brace to propel Ike to a 5-0 start in conference play. Esquivel, the returning CBBN Offensive Player of the Year, added a late game-winner on Tuesday to give the Cadets a 1-0 win over Sunnyside and a firm grip on the league title race.

• GIRLS SOCCER STANDINGS

“Beating Wenatchee the way we did gave us a lot of confidence, but Sunnyside showed us that we have to come prepared to play every night,” eighth-year head coach Noe Gutierrez said. “When you look at the standings, they are near the bottom, but they haven’t been giving up a lot of goals. They proved to us that previous results don’t matter.”

Aside from Tuesday’s close call against the Grizzlies, Gutierrez believes his team is in a good position heading into the second half of the CBBN schedule.

“Beating Wenatchee is definitely one of my bigger wins as coach,” he said. “We’ve only beaten them twice since I’ve been here, so that’s a pretty big deal by itself. But winning by that margin, I feel like we made a statement.”

Ike (6-0 CBBN, 10-1 overall) has undoubtedly benefited from the leadership of Esquivel and fellow seniors Miley Ramirez (midfield), Emely Badillo (defense) and Allison Villareal (defense). But, by and large, the Cadets are a relatively young team that relies heavily on a battle-tested group of sophomores, who have been playing together for years with the Central Washington Sounders.

Ochoa has scored nine goals — second only to Esquivel’s 14 — while Hadley Hanchett has found the net seven times. Also part of the Cadets’ stout sophomore core are midfielders Maarea Ketcham, Maggie Jimenez and Eva Timm.

“The seniors have created a winning culture — they are hungry after getting to state a couple years ago — but our sophomores have done a great job of leading by example,” said Gutierrez, whose squad reached the 4A tournament in 2024 to end a 25-year drought. “We feel like we’re really building something here.”

Gutierrez pointed to a talented junior class that includes goalkeeper Taylor Newman, forward Briana Montes, and defenders Alekxia De Leon, Valeria Martinez and Elsie Hopkins. He also praised freshmen Zoey Encinas and Azalea De Leon, who are taking on increased roles as the program continues its ascent.

“I feel like we have a group that can win a league and district title,” Gutierrez said. “With the right seeding, I think we could also win a game or two at state. We just need to keep our heads down and keep getting better with every game.”

CONFERENCE OVERVIEWS

CBBN

Despite falling to Eisenhower at home on Oct. 3, four-time defending district championWENATCHEE remains in the hunt for the league title at 5-1 (6-2-2 overall). Senior first-team all-conference selections Berkeley Boles and Logan Grosdidier have provided plenty of firepower up front, along with Sophia Garcia and Kam Garcia. … WEST VALLEY has exceeded expectations thus far, going 8-2 over the first month (4-2 CBBN), with its only losses coming to Eisenhower and Wenatchee. Sophomore Aspen Austin is a consistent offensive threat, while seniors Lucy Plant and Nayely Valencia have provided stability in the midfield, along with freshmen Hartley Hadlock and Kinsley Griffin. Sloane Kneisler and goalkeeper Lily Anderson have anchored the back line.

MCC

Defending league champion CHIAWANA is off to a 4-0 start in league play and sits at 8-3 overall after Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Kamiakin. The Riverhawks are led by attacker Sawyer Chubb, midfielder Nicole Mills, and defenders Amaya Garcia-Thompson and Addi Bunger … RICHLAND sits tied for second place at 3-1 (7-3 overall) and handed Chiawana one of its two losses with a shootout win on Sept. 22. Team leaders include forward Kearyn Elfering and defenders Bella Arroyo and Lauren Lindley. ... KAMIAKIN and HANFORD are also eyeing postseason runs, with both teams starting 3-1 in league play. The Braves (8-3-1 overall) defeated both Chiawana and Richland earlier in the season, while the Falcons (6-4 overall) took down Richland in a shootout on Sept. 17.

CWAC

Defending league and district champion EAST VALLEY doesn’t appear ready to concede its top spot, starting 4-0 in conference play and 8-2 overall. Two-time all-CWAC first-team pick Natalie Mendoza has led the offense, with help from Kalixta Diaz, Allison Fries, Bella Quiroz and Emily Solorzano. The Red Devils have scored 33 goals and allowed just nine. … Preseason favorite ELLENSBURG sits in second place at 4-1 (6-3 overall) heading into an Oct. 13 showdown against East Valley. Sophomore Brea Potucek has scored nine goals to lead the attack, while Makena Shaw and Haley Bostwick have provided consistent offensive firepower … SELAH improved to 3-1 in conference play on Tuesday with a 3-1 win over Prosser. The young Vikings are led by juniors Maddie Phinney and Savannah Close-Schibig, and a strong core of sophomores, including goalkeeper Lacy Patterson.

SCAC

Defending district champion CASHMERE is off to an 11-0 start under new head coach Anya Belcher, who stepped in for her father, Dennis Tronson, the 29-year veteran coach who retired after last season. The school will honor Tronson, who led the Bulldogs to 22 league titles and 20 state tournament appearances, with a celebration Oct. 17 at 3 p.m. This year’s squad is led by Brynne Patrick, Gwen Ledesma, Addie Talley and Makelah Gatens. … ROYAL has surged into second place at 9-1-1 (10-1-1 overall) after defeating defending league champion Naches Valley in a shootout on Sept. 22. The Knights are led by senior Maggie Frank, juniors Hali Christensen and Grace Soliz, and sophomore Lauren Wardenaar. … NACHES VALLEYcontinues to rack up victories, sitting at 8-1-1 overall (7-1-1 SCAC). Two-time Offensive Player of the Year Emmaria Mendoza leads the attack with 14 goals, and has benefited from a solid supporting cast that includes Elizabeth Ramirez, Finley Hahn-Keenan, Emary Rowe and Carson Denney.