Athletic ability is not the primary asset of the No. 4 Whitman girls soccer team. And, for that, the sport’s purists can rejoice.
For theirs is a game of anticipation and execution. Their unspoken communication and seamless connections make the game look easy. The players are skilled, but most of all, they are one.
Thursday at Whitman, the Vikings played only 40 minutes of soccer, but it was plenty to demonstrate their cohesion in a 2-0 victory. When a thunderstorm hit at halftime, the game was called and the score deemed official.
Senior Becky Stevens scored first for Whitman (4-0-1) on a long bomb, unassisted from the perimeter. Later, junior Julie McCabe finished off a perfectly-timed feed from senior Mia Plato for the Vikings’ second goal.
In between, there were numerous through balls, many sent forward by senior playmaker Charlotte Rizzi, which constantly put Magruder (2-4) on the defensive.
“They’re so fluid, so experienced. They really know where they’re going with the ball and what each other is going to do,” said Magruder coach Yvonne Gwinnell. “You see them play a team like us — with no seniors — and their experience level really shows.”
Winning a region title in the highly-competitive 4A West Region is a difficult task. The Vikings are trying to become just the second team to accomplish the feat. Wootton (1998-2000) was the first.
Coach Greg Herbert’s squad also seeks a third straight trip to the state championship game. Many of the players have been fixtures throughout the run. The roster includes five seniors and eight juniors. Whitman won the state title in 2004 and was runner-up last year, falling to C.M. Wright, 1-0.
Getting defensive
» Becky Stevens leads Whitman with four goals, all scored this week. She had a hat trick in a 5-2 win over Walter Johnson Monday.
» McCabe is next with three goals.
» Magruder was coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to undefeated Churchill in which junior Becca Adams and sophomore Elena Chestnut scored.
