The Three-Peat Threat - By Sorrel Stratford

   The Richland Girls Soccer team has yet again had an incredible season this year, only losing three games, leaving them with a 15-3 record overall. In the first game of the season, the Bombers faced off against their rival Kamiakin and lost in a nail-biting shootout. This loss fired up the team because the one result this team did not like to do was losing. The team showed that this season as they pulled off taking the Mid Columbia Conference champions title for the third year in a row. There was a lot of heart on the team this year, and it showed on and off the field. The Lady Bombers scored a total of 45 goals this season, only allowing six goals past them. Junior goalkeeper Alyssa Marsh was a huge part of the team's success this year, and the MCC agrees, naming Alyssa All-Conference First team goalie. 

Photo courtesy of Brandon Bundage.

    The Lady Bombers had many accomplishments this season, including having eight girls make the Mid Columbia All-Conference Teams, with four on the first team and four on the second team. Junior forward Bella Bunnage, senior midfielder Kelsey Fulton, senior defender Savannah Crithfield, junior goalie Alyssa Marsh, senior midfielders Riley Heidigger and Sorrel Stratford, junior defender Tiffany Turner and senior defender Kendal Smith made all-conference teams. This is not the first time the Bombers have had an outstanding season. For the past four years, the Bomber has had at least six girls make all-conference teams every year. The Girls' Soccer program as a whole has had a great three years, winning the MCC title all three and being district champs last year and the year before, along with third in the state in 2021. In the 2020-2021 season, the girls had an impressive record of 20-0, going undefeated the year before as well, during the Covid season.  

Photo courtesy of Brandon Bundage.

    The Bomber soccer program is like a family. Many traditions are passed down year after year, which has helped grow the culture of the team. Bella Bunnage, a junior forward, when asked what her favorite thing about the season was this year, said, "My favorite thing about the season this year was being able to build a special type of connection with the whole team. This season the team has built a family not just on the pitch but also off. I'm grateful to know I will always have my team for anything." Many other girls on the team also feel like a special bond was made this year, different from most years. Kelsey Fulton, a senior midfielder, said, "This season was really special to me because it was my senior season. This was the last time I was going to be able to play for the Bombers and represent our school with a lot of girls I had grown up playing with. Winning the MCC for the third time was also super special because that was one  of our goals we were working towards year after year." Every year at the beginning of the season, the girls come together and go over what they want their season to look like from beginning to end. There is a huge emphasis on achieving personal and team goals that are established from the beginning. This year the girls achieved many of their goals, like becoming MCC champs, supporting each other through the ups and downs, keeping the environment competitive, and focusing on Rowing The Boat. RTB is a saying that the program has had for years and gets passed down every year. The meaning behind RTB is to make sure we are working together. If only one person is rowing, the boat will go in circles, getting the team nowhere. If everyone is rowing, the boat will move in the right direction. Working together as a team was brought up in many, if not all, of the pre-game discussions. 

Photo courtesy of Brandon Bundage.

    There were many ups and downs this season, and the team had to push through key players getting season-ending injuries and sickness. The team was young this year, with six starters graduating last year, but many of the younger girls did a great job stepping up this season to fill in the gaps. One of the leading goal scorers on the team was freshman forward Kylee Kukes. Kylee was a huge asset to the team this year and will be a huge help in the upcoming years with her speed and ability to make big plays. Tiffany Turner, a junior outside back, also had many goals this season. Her ability to make the back post run and get her head on the ball allowed the Bombers to get the lead in very close games this season and, on many occasions, had the only goal in 1-0 games. 

Photo courtesy of Brandon Bundage.

    The spirit at Richland High is tough to beat. Over the last few years, the girls' soccer team has acquired many loyal fans, creating fiery energy, especially at rivalry games. The student section had become a huge part of the games, helping create a competitive environment. All the girls on the team agree that games would not be the same without the student section's support throughout the season.