Gray skies and crisp temperatures portending the advent of autumn were in sharp contrast to the brightness and heat generated by the Seattle Christian girls soccer team in a 4-0 shutout of Vashon Island at Valley Ridge Field in SeaTac on Friday, Sept. 21.

Perched atop the Nisqually 1A standings with an unbeaten 5-0 record, the Warriors look forward to another league title as well as a successful postseason.

"It was good that we came out and kept possession to create opportunities," said SCS head coach Melissa Dunckley. "Their goalie had some great saves. We need to put more of our wide open shots away. For this year, we're a little younger up front and in the midfield, but we have some great talent. Our defense is really strong. Abby (Kim) is a great freshman forward. The league is stronger this year with the addition of Cedar Park Christian. It was a good win when we played against Cedar Park. We're still looking for a deep run into the playoffs."

For Seattle Christian, the seniors are represented by Mikayla Wrolstad (D), Kimber Howard (D), Emily Bjornstad (F), Faith Pizzey (D) and Taylor Hentschell (D). Shaina Mitchell and (MF) and Cassidy Stobart (F) are the juniors. Erin Swain (GK), Payton Hibbard (F) Morgan Gaston (D) and Isabelle Risponte (F) play as sophomores while Abby Kim (F), Megan Nielsen (MF), Julia Eng (MF), Ally Zimmer (F) and Karissa Kleps (F) are the freshman.

Coach Dunckley is assisted by her husband, Zack.

Sending waves of attackers at the Island on Friday, the Warriors flooded Pirate territory immediately and kept the pressure on throughout the game

Sophomore forward Payton Hibbard took a feed from freshman Abby Kim, who led the charges at net, and powered home a goal for a 1-0 SCS lead in the fifth minute of play. The Warriors were constantly pushing up, but had several shots hit the posts or the cross bar while the Vashon Island keeper earned her keep with some good saves.

By the 32nd minute, Seattle Christian's pressure finally resulted in the second goal as Kim assisted Hibbard for a goal and a 2-0 margin.

With Vashon Island Island unable to muster up a measure off offense for a single shot on goal, Seattle Christian was able to substitute and also place players in other positions as the game proceeded. Erin Swain traded her keeper jersey for a chance to join the front line, resulting in her point blank goal off an Kimber Howard pass in the 46th minute.

Shaina Mitchell assisted Isabelle Rispontes on the final goal of the game in the 60th minute.

"We played aggressively and passed the ball well," observed Mitchell. "Our strong defense gives a chance to use players in different spots."

Swain worked the keeper's position in the first half and senior defender Mikayla Wrolstad stood in goal for the majority of the second half with Hibbard taking her turn between the posts in the final minutes of the whitewash.

"Today was good game with good competition," said defender Faith Pizzey. "We really have good teamwork."

On Monday, Sept.17, Seattle Christian ventured to Cascade Christian (Puyallup) and came away with a 1-0 win. Tough goal keeping and a tough day of finishing off attacks kept the Warriors off the board except for Kim's goal off a Julia Eng pass in the 24th minute.

Seattle Christian student and soccer player Kim actually resides in Vashon Island and works a system of transportation that includes traveling on the West Seattle ferry as well as reaching Seattle Christian before returning home.