Mount Rainier head soccer coach Jerry Cappodanno has found plenty of reason to be happy with the Rams' first season in the Class 4A South Puget Sound League North Division.
They held off perennial power Thomas Jefferson by a 1-0 score Thursday, Oct. 14 to improve their record to 6-5-1. The Raiders and Rams tied, 2-2, the first time they met.
"There's five pretty good teams and we make six," said Cappodanno in comparing this years SPSL North to the recent seasons his team dominated in the Seamount League. ""That's good for everyone. The league is better. You tie teams 1-1 and 2-2, not beating them 10-0."
"This was a good win," said goalkeeper Justine Park, who now has three shutouts to show for the season.
The win over Thomas Jefferson at Highline Stadium allowed the Rams to pull into fourth place in their division, which will send four teams on to the postseason.
Mount Rainier now has 19 points in the standings ahead of the 17 by Thomas Jefferson.
"They were ahead of us in the standings, so that was fun," said Mount Rainier senior captain Clarissa Strayer.
The pressure was on for both teams in the match, not only for its importance in the standings but for the fact it remained a scoreless tie until the bitter end.
Chelsea Still scored the only goal the Rams needed, taking a corner kick from Strayer and heading it in off the TJ goalie's hands.
"It was a terrific goal," Cappodanno said. "It was beautiful."
Now the Rams' momentum carries through the end of their regular SPSL North season.
"We've got tough teams ahead," Strayer said.
After visiting Kentwood Tuesday and hosting Kentridge Thursday, Mount Rainier entertains Kentlake at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26 visits Auburn-Riverside at the same time Thursday, Oct. 28 to close out its regular league schedule.
"We have to keep pushing for wins," said Strayer. "We are going to try and have a good last of the season."
TJ hosted Auburn-Riverside Tuesday and visited Kent-Meridian Thursday, before entertaining Auburn at 11 a.m. Saturday, hosting Tahoma at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26 and visiting Kentlake at 3:30 p.m. Thursday Oct. 28.
