CC women’s soccer team clinches first postseason berth

A 1-1 draw against Pierce College was enough for the Centralia College women's soccer team on Wednesday, as the tie secured the Trailblazers' first postseason berth in program history.

It's the team's ninth season of existence, including the postseason-less 2020 campaign, and it's coach Clarence Karteh's seventh season at the helm.

"This has been a family," Karteh said. "This was the goal the girls set way back in the first meeting of the season. It's good to see that we accomplished that goal. I'm excited for them, I'm happy for them, and I'm glad we made it."

CC would have needed a win if Clark had defeated Highline earlier in the afternoon, but because Clark lost, the Trailblazers knew that a win or draw would get the job done.

Karteh said that the goal was to get the win no matter what, and he was "extremely proud" of the team's effort.

Krysta Hook broke the scoreless tie in the 53rd minute, but Pierce was able to tie the game with a goal in the 72nd.

The CC defense was able to hold in the final 18 minutes plus stoppage time, and the final whistle blew with the draw intact.

The Trailblazers outshot Pierce 9-6, and CC's Isabella Harley-Bianquini made three saves.

"Krysta stepped up, and Izabella was excellent in net," Karteh said. "A lot of players really stepped up. All the credit goes to the players."

As the NWAC West's No. 3 seed, CC (6-4-5, 5-4-5 NWAC) will head to the North's No. 2, Skagit Valley, for its first playoff game in program history. The winner will advance to face Spokane in the NWAC quarterfinals.

"We're excited," Karteh said. "We're a young program, so it's good to see we're starting to make strides and compete with some of the elite teams. I'm proud of each player and proud of our coaching staff. They're extremely important to the success we have had … To finish it out and make it this year is exciting."