HILLSBORO – One month into the season, the prospects of a fourth consecutive 5A girls soccer title seemed less than glowing for Wilsonville.
The Wildcats went 3-4 in their nonleague schedule, all of the losses coming against 6A teams. Then, their 49-game unbeaten streak in the Northwest Oregon Conference – dating to 2017 – came to a screeching halt with a loss to Canby.
But Wilsonville settled into a groove, and Saturday, the Wildcats finished the season with another title by beating Bend 4-1 in the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 5A final at Hillsboro Stadium.
The Wildcats entered the playoffs with the No. 5 seed, but much like they did in 2022 – when they were seeded seventh – they saved their best soccer for last, winning their last nine games.
“Rough start, playing against some very good 6A schools,” said junior forward Camryn Schaan, who had two goals and an assist Saturday “Coming into league, we got some Ws, and we started to pick it up and gained some confidence coming into playoffs.
“Some people didn't think we'd get as far as we did. We kind of proved other people wrong, and we did it.”
Wilsonville (14-5) extended its title streak despite losing five starters from last season, including high-scoring forward Kenley Whittaker, who went on to a college career at Cal.
“I can't believe it, but at the same time, we figured out something that works for us,” Wildcats coach Alex Boehm said. “We've managed to kind of figure out how to peak at the right time.
“For us, a lot of it is starting with a challenging preseason, putting ourselves through the ringer, learning along the way and growing every week.”
Senior midfielder Tegan Waters said it took a while for the Wildcats to fill in the gaps from last year's lineup.
“We started in one formation, and that was OK, but didn't work out the best,” Waters said. “Then we changed up our lineup and got people in the right spots. We trusted the process, honestly. That's really the key to it all.”
Schaan – who had one goal and one assist in each of the last two state finals -- got Wilsonville started against the No. 7 Lava Bears (12-5-1). In the fifth minute, she rolled a shot through the defense from about 10 yards out.
“It was very important to get a goal on the scoreboard right away, get the momentum going, and then just keep it going like we did,” Schaan said.
Sophomore Kate Kleinke made it 2-0 in the 13th minute, taking a pass from Schaan and converting from close range.
In the first minute of the second half, Waters blasted a shot from about 20 yards out into the left upper corner of the goal, extending the lead to 3-0.
Schaan netted her second goal in the 53rd minute, volleying in a shot from five yards out as the lead grew to 4-0. Bend got a goal in the 77th minute on a long shot by sophomore Shea Manfredi.
Schaan finished the season with 21 goals and 13 assists. She has 53 goals in her high school career.
“She's amazing,” Waters said of Schaan. “She has a big presence. She's a big player on the team. She's grown so much as a person and a player, as long as I've known her. I can't wait to see what's in store for her.”
Boehm marveled at how the team coalesced around Schaan.
“Camryn is critical to our team, but I think the best part is also the 10 kids working around her,” Boehm said. “We are one cohesive unit. One of our values is that we're all better together, it's not all on Camryn. She does her fair share, or even more, but everyone is bought in. That's how it works for us.”
Boehm kept the team pointed in the right direction despite the early struggles.
“She's a great coach,” Waters said. “She always pushes us to be the best version of ourselves. She puts all the puzzle pieces in the right spots. That's just what leads us to success.”
Waters, a team captain, concluded her high school career with a fourth state title.
“I'm so grateful. It's so surreal,” she said.
Bend, playing in its first final since 2014, fell short in bidding for its first title since taking home the blue trophy in 2006, 2008 and 2009.
