SUMNER--Cel-uh-brate good times. C'mon! Let's celebrate....

There was a party going on right there in the middle of the Sunset Chev Stadium soccer field following the defending 1A champ Seattle Christian Warriors' 3-1 victory over Kings in the WIAA Dairy Farmers of Washington/Les Schwab/Wells Fargo state championships Saturday, Nov. 16.

"Seattle Christian is always dominant," said Hannah Fanslow, a senior on the Warriors.

The Warriors were celebrating their victory over Kings and pandemonium broke out as they lifted up their trophy and they giggled and they screamed.

It would have been hard for someone to tell that the Warriors had taken third -- and not first--if they had arrived after the game. The Warriors carried on with a ton of excited faces, pointing at their third place trophy they got after beating Kings in the third-fourth place consolation match in Sumner.

The Warriors lost to LaSalle in a heart-breaking shootout in the semifinal. SCS was down to the last penalty kick shot of LaSalle's shooter to decide things...

"Third place, yeah," many SCS girls could be heard shouting, amid screams. They were happy. Maybe 'joy' is a better choice of word.

And then one girl of the 20-something on the team made reference to who they play for. Their coach, Melissa Bennett, and their assistant coach, Kendra Walker? No and no. Well, yes, too. The girls admire both that is easy to see, but who was referenced that they play for was...

"We need to do our 'Jesus' cheer," said one, as they were having fun together, acting silly and enjoying themselves with yet another strong season end.

"Yay, Jesus," said senior Hannah Fanslow. A few others 'yayed' him, too.

Then they got in a circle and did a cheer.

"Give me a 'J,' they all said.

"J," they shouted.

Give me a 'E,', they all said.

"E," they shouted.

They continued with an 'S' and a 'U' and a 'S.'

What does that spell," they shouted.

"Jesus," they shouted, ending the cheer.

Ending the season.

This SCS team, in the recent past, is indisputably the most consistent 1A girls high school soccer team in the state of Washington, having taken third this time, first last time, top 8 the time before that, and the time before that (four years ago), second.

So, once again, this team took on all comers and finished as a top team in the state championships.

Jesus helping that much, Hannah?

"Always," said Fanslow, who played in her last high school soccer game, along with two other senior field players, Rachel Busick and Tianna Homad. In goal was sensational keeper Jessica Kane, who stopped a couple penalty kicks to help SCS get a championship against the same Kings team they killed this year.

Wasn't really close.

Early it was actually, really early.

SCS' leading scorer, freshman Terrika Weaver, scored in the first minute of play. And then Kings scored a minute later. Weaver scored again a minute later so before five minutes ticked off the first half clock of the 40 minute first half, SCS led Kings, 2-1.

Weaver has been doing that kind of thing all year. She scored 29 goals this season, showing the Warriors have got some good things there to look forward to. But assistant coach Walker said that Weaver's efforts would not be so great without good help from her teammates.

"The team rallies around her to give her good service," said Walker. "Allison (Mitchell) and Jackie (Rodgers) have done great districtuting the ball. So the play builds from the back to the front."

In the 38th minute of the first half, Weaver again scored to make it 3-1.

"We wanted this game a lot more," said Weaver, who scored a hat trick (three goals in one game) with that third score.

That's what assistant coach, Walker, said too, that the semifinal game was just a game of well, uh, hmmm...choppy play that was momentous early with good ball control over La Salle. But then La Salle settled into being more controlling of the ball.

"We didn't get into a natural rhythm yesterday," said Walker. "When we control the ball, when we play with a solid passing game, we have our success."

Speaking of success, like years past, 'it' should continue.

The Warriors have young players back, like Weaver and Rodgers and Mitchell, both sophomores, and, others, because only four seniors graduate off this SCS team, as aforementioned. The breakdown is six freshmen on this year's squad, five juniors, four sophomores, and the seniors. Don't forget the seniors .

"Four seniors," said Walker. "All brought so much to our team and showed leadership. Each showed a unique amount of leadership, with positive attitudes and pushing the team in fitness, in skill. They've been a great bunch."

The coaches, it always comes back to the coaches. Doesn't it?

"They just care about us on and off the soccer field," said Hanslow.

"Bennett played at the UW. She has played a lot of soccer and knows what it takes. So her experience has helped us. And Kendra, too, played in college. They understand the game."

Yes they do.

The SCS players were Rachel Busick, Jordan Comiskey, Grace Dostert, Carissa Doyle, Hannah Fanslow, Jordan Fremmerlid, Tianna Homad, Chanelle Huffman, Jessica Kane, Hannah Kane, Lisa Luedeman, Allison Mitchell, Julia Morse, Madeline Nielsen, Sabara Oehlschlaeger-Browne, Riley Phelps, Jackie Rodgers, Kelsey Taylor, Sara Tripoli, Terrika Weaver, Kelby Weiler, Amanda ZeBarth.

The head coach is Melissa Bennett aand the assistant coach is Kendra Walker.