Mustangs bring a fighting spirit onto the soccer pitch

Redmond girls are notching wins in 4A KingCo.

Halle Howe feels the Redmond High girls soccer team brings a load of passion onto the field during each match.

They play for each other and are like her second family, the Mustang freshman said.

“We fight with everything: If we lose, we win the next game; we win, we think about the next game and we fight for it,” said Howe, who notched a hat trick within the first 18 minutes to kick off the Mustangs’ 8-0 victory over Newport in a 4A KingCo match on Oct. 15.

At press time, the Mustangs were 4-1-2 in league and 6-3-2 overall heading into the final two weeks of the regular season.

Also cracking the back of the net against Newport were senior Izzy Bach-Lefler with a penalty kick and a sterling header off a corner kick from senior Sydney Trzupek; sophomore Aspen Sullivan with two goals; and freshman Cameron Cunningham with one.

Trzupek was elated to unleash the corner kick that struck gold for Bach-Lefler.

“It’s a great feeling being able to assist and aid the team in victory,” said Trzupek, who helped slam the door on Newport from her defender position.

Trzupek called senior Reece Wharton, junior goalkeeper Sarah Thomas and sophomore Willow Thom her “rocks” on defense and added that freshman Sofia Andujar holds her own in the back as well.

“We’ve become a unified back line that’s being able to keep people out of our goal,” Trzupek said.

Senior forward/midfielder Sofiya Mitchell said that one of the crucial components to the Mustangs’ success has been developing a team dynamic, which includes solid passes and communication.

When everything clicks, “It kind of makes you feel like all our hard work that we put in at practice, it’s all paying off. We can see it translate out onto the field and we reap the benefits of our hard work,” Mitchell said as Howe and Trzupek smiled and nodded their heads in agreement.

From seniors to freshmen, Trzupek said that all the players are equal on the pitch and they’ve all blended together nicely.

With a good warmup and after hyping each other up prior to kickoff, the Mustangs are set for action.

“Our mindset is there. When we step foot on the field, we’re already ready. It’s kind of like we’re already playing our second half and we’re just ready to put our full 80 minutes in,” Trzupek said.

Newport’s Ellen Akopyan falls to the pitch as Redmond’s Aspen Sullivan blazes by the Knight. Andy Nystrom/ staff photo

Newport’s Ellen Akopyan falls to the pitch as Redmond’s Aspen Sullivan blazes by the Knight. Andy Nystrom/ staff photo

Redmond’s Halle Howe, left, and Izzy Bach-Lefler celebrate a goal. Andy Nystrom/ staff photo

Redmond’s Halle Howe, left, and Izzy Bach-Lefler celebrate a goal. Andy Nystrom/ staff photo

Newport’s Julia Graddy, left, defends Redmond’s Kait Raffensperger. Andy Nystrom/ staff photo

Newport’s Julia Graddy, left, defends Redmond’s Kait Raffensperger. Andy Nystrom/ staff photo

Redmond’s Izzy Bach-Lefler, right, controls the ball against Newport’s Ellen Akopyan. Andy Nystrom/ staff photo

Redmond’s Izzy Bach-Lefler, right, controls the ball against Newport’s Ellen Akopyan. Andy Nystrom/ staff photo