QUINCY, WA — October 26, 2026
The Quincy Lady Jacks varsity soccer team entered Saturday’s district play-in game with an 11–5 record, a season that had once seen them ranked among the top five teams in Washington, and an opportunity to keep their postseason hopes alive. By the final whistle, those hopes had ended with a heartbreaking 2–1 loss to the Grandview Greyhounds, despite a second-half effort that had Quincy pressing for the tying goal until the final minutes.
The October 24 contest at Quincy High School was a single-elimination game in the WIAA Class 2A District 5 Girls Soccer Tournament. Quincy entered as the fifth seed after finishing 4–4 in Central Washington Athletic Conference (CWAC) play, while Grandview entered as the eighth seed with a 1–8 conference record. The winner would advance in the district bracket, while the losing team’s season would come to an end.
For the Lady Jacks, the loss was a difficult conclusion to a season that began with nine consecutive victories and saw the team climb as high as No. 4 in the state rankings. Although Quincy struggled through the latter portion of its conference schedule, Saturday’s second-half performance demonstrated the talent and determination that had made the Lady Jacks one of the area’s most exciting teams to watch this fall.
TL;DR
Season Ends: Quincy fell 2–1 to Grandview on Saturday, October 24, in a single-elimination district play-in game.
A Remarkable Start: The Lady Jacks opened 9–0, climbed to No. 4 in the state rankings, and finished the regular season 11–5 overall.
Conference Standings: Quincy finished fifth in the CWAC with a 4–4 league record, earning the No. 5 seed in the District 5 tournament.
Outstanding Defense: Senior goalkeeper Aylen Garcia made several impressive saves, while the Lady Jacks’ defense battled to keep Quincy within reach.
A Relentless Finish: After falling behind 2–0, Quincy scored in the second half and continued attacking in search of the equalizer.
Eight Seniors: The Lady Jacks graduate eight seniors whose experience and leadership helped shape this year’s team.
A Promising Future: Freshmen Allanah and Briellah Longwill, along with several talented returning players, give Quincy plenty of reasons for optimism.
From Nine Straight Wins to a Must-Win Playoff Game
Few Quincy teams began their fall season with the kind of momentum the Lady Jacks enjoyed this year. Nine consecutive victories propelled Quincy into the state rankings, where the team climbed as high as fourth, and established the Lady Jacks as a team capable of competing with strong programs across the region.
The early victories included wins over Moses Lake, Chelan, Liberty Bell, Cascade, Ephrata, Brewster, Grandview, Othello, and Davis. Quincy demonstrated its ability to win in different ways, recording shutouts against several opponents while also prevailing in closer contests that required patience and determination.
The second half of the season proved more difficult. Quincy lost five of its final seven league matches and finished CWAC play with a 4–4 record, placing fifth in the conference standings. While the Lady Jacks’ 11–5 overall record remained impressive, the conference results left them facing a single-elimination district play-in game rather than entering the tournament through one of the higher seeds.
Their opponent was familiar. Quincy had defeated Grandview 1–0 earlier in the season, but Saturday’s rematch carried considerably greater consequences. The Greyhounds entered with a 3–12 overall record and only one conference victory, yet both teams knew that previous records would mean little once the game began.
For Quincy, the challenge was to rediscover the consistency and communication that had made the team so successful early in the fall. Grandview, meanwhile, had an opportunity to extend its season by defeating a team that had enjoyed considerably more success during the regular schedule.
A Difficult First Half
From the opening minutes Saturday, the Lady Jacks struggled to establish the rhythm that had characterized their strongest performances. Quincy had talented players across the field, but the passing and communication were not as sharp as they had been during the team’s early-season victories.
Grandview took advantage, scoring early in the first half to put Quincy behind 1–0. The Greyhounds continued creating opportunities, forcing the Lady Jacks to defend while searching for a way to organize their own attack.
Senior goalkeeper Aylen Garcia was particularly impressive during those difficult stretches. Garcia made several outstanding saves, reacting quickly to shots and preventing Grandview from building a larger lead. Without her efforts in goal, the Lady Jacks could have faced a considerably greater deficit.
Watching from the sidelines, it was frustrating to see a team with so much individual ability struggle to put everything together. The talent that had carried Quincy through nine consecutive victories was still evident, but the players were not connecting with one another as effectively as they had earlier in the season.
Whether the pressure of elimination contributed to those difficulties is impossible to know from the sidelines. What was clear was that Quincy needed to make adjustments if the Lady Jacks were going to keep their season alive.
The Lady Jacks Find Their Footing
The second half brought a noticeable change in Quincy’s play. The Lady Jacks began moving the ball with greater confidence, connecting passes, challenging Grandview’s defenders, and spending considerably more time in the attacking half of the field.
Grandview managed to extend its lead to 2–0, but Quincy refused to let the game slip away without a fight. The Lady Jacks answered with a goal of their own later in the second half, cutting the deficit to 2–1 and giving the home crowd renewed hope that the game might still be pushed into overtime.
From my position along the sidelines photographing the action, the difference between Quincy’s first and second-half performances was remarkable. The Lady Jacks demonstrated impressive footwork, ball handling, and individual skill as they repeatedly moved the ball into scoring position.
Sophomore forwards Brielle Baughman and Julissa Madera were among the players helping drive Quincy’s attack. Both showed the ability to challenge defenders and push the ball forward, contributing to the offensive pressure that kept Grandview defending for much of the second half.
Junior Lizbeth Diaz also stood out for her work especially in the corners of the field. When Grandview managed to move the ball into the corners, Diaz repeatedly worked to regain possession and bring the ball out of danger, helping Quincy continue the attack.
The Lady Jacks generated numerous scoring opportunities as the half progressed. Some shots sailed wide, others went high, and several were stopped by Grandview’s goalkeeper, who deserves credit for holding her ground against a persistent Quincy offense.
What impressed me most was the conditioning and determination of the Quincy players. Even as the match approached its final minutes, they continued running, challenging for possession, and pushing toward the goal without any visible decline in their effort.
During the closing minutes, Grandview struggled to move the ball out of its defensive end as Quincy pressed relentlessly for the equalizer. The Lady Jacks continued creating opportunities, and I genuinely believed they might find the goal that would send the game into overtime.
It never came. When the final whistle sounded, Grandview had secured the 2–1 victory, and Quincy’s season was over.
Individual Efforts Reflect a Team That Wouldn’t Quit
Although Saturday’s loss was a team result, several individual performances deserve recognition for the effort and determination they demonstrated throughout the afternoon.
Garcia’s work in goal was essential to keeping the Lady Jacks competitive. Grandview created dangerous opportunities, particularly during the first half, but the senior goalkeeper repeatedly stepped up to make difficult saves. Goalkeepers often receive attention for the shots that get past them, but Garcia deserves recognition for the many opportunities she prevented from becoming goals.
Senior Addison Compton provided another memorable example of the team’s determination. During a hard challenge, Compton took a fall that was significant enough to knock the wind out of her. I was photographing nearby and could hear the impact. She had to leave the field briefly to recover, but after several minutes on the sidelines, she returned to the match and continued competing.
The determination displayed by Compton reflected what I saw from the Lady Jacks throughout the second half. Players challenged for loose balls, fought to maintain possession, and continued working for one another even as time was running out.
The result was not what Quincy wanted, but the effort was unmistakable. The Lady Jacks finished the afternoon competing with the same intensity that had helped make their season so successful.
Eight Seniors Leave Their Mark on Lady Jacks Soccer
Saturday’s loss was more than the end of a season. For eight Quincy seniors, it was the final opportunity to represent their high school on the soccer field.
Emily Romero Ramirez, Arlene Bolanos, Emiko Kondo, Diana Ramirez, Addison Compton, Aylen Garcia, Gabriela Lopez, and Jazmine Sanchez make up this year’s graduating class. Together, they leave behind a team that won 11 regular-season games, climbed into the state’s top five rankings, and remained in contention for a district tournament position until the final weekend of October.
Losing eight seniors in a single year represents a significant transition for any high school athletic program. Those players bring experience that cannot easily be replaced, particularly the familiarity that develops through seasons of practicing, traveling, competing, and working together.
Their leadership also matters beyond what appears on the scoreboard. Younger athletes learn by watching experienced teammates handle difficult games, respond to setbacks, and continue working when circumstances are not going their way. The example set by a senior class helps establish expectations for the players who will eventually take their places.
Saturday’s game offered a reminder of that responsibility. Garcia’s determination in goal and Compton’s return to the field after a hard fall were visible examples of the commitment that helped carry this team through the season. The contributions of the entire senior class deserve recognition for the role they played in building a successful Quincy soccer program.
There is undoubtedly disappointment in ending a high school career with a playoff loss, particularly after a season that began with such promise. But these eight young women have much more to remember than Saturday’s final score.
They helped create a season that gave Quincy plenty to cheer about, and their contributions will remain part of the foundation for the players who follow them.
To Emily, Arlene, Emiko, Diana, Addison, Aylen, Gabriela, and Jazmine: thank you for your dedication, your leadership, and the time you invested in representing Quincy High School. You have given the younger players an example to build upon, and your community has every reason to be proud of what you accomplished.
Young Talent Offers Hope for the Future
While the departure of eight seniors creates significant challenges for next season, the Lady Jacks have considerable talent returning to the field. Several freshmen, sophomores, and juniors made meaningful contributions this fall, and their continued development should give Quincy soccer fans plenty of reasons to look forward to next year.
Among the most promising newcomers are freshmen Allanah and Briellah Longwill, who both earned starting positions on the varsity team during their first year of high school soccer.
Allanah made an immediate impact on the offense, finishing the regular season with 13 goals and leading Quincy in both overall and conference scoring. Her versatility allowed her to contribute from multiple positions, including midfield and the wing, wherever the team needed her.
Thirteen goals is an impressive accomplishment for any varsity player, but it is particularly noteworthy for a freshman competing against older, more experienced athletes. Allanah also demonstrated determination throughout a season that included physical challenges, continuing to contribute to the team’s success despite those difficulties.
Her sister Briellah established herself on the defensive side of the field, earning a varsity starting position and demonstrating the toughness needed to compete against older opponents. She also received opportunities to contribute offensively, showing versatility that could become increasingly valuable as she gains experience.
Both freshmen have already demonstrated that size and age do not determine a player’s ability to compete at the varsity level. Their first season provides a promising starting point for what could become four-year high school soccer careers.
Sophomores Brielle Baughman and Julissa Madera also showed considerable promise during Saturday’s game. Their willingness to challenge defenders and contribute to Quincy’s offensive pressure suggests they could play increasingly important roles as the team rebuilds its lineup.
Junior Lizbeth Diaz demonstrated the kind of defensive awareness and persistence that will be valuable next season. Her ability to work the ball out of difficult positions against Grandview helped Quincy regain possession and move back into the attack.
Head coach Javier Diaz, along with assistant coaches Johan Farias and Jasmine Quintero-Mendez, will have the challenge of replacing eight graduating seniors while continuing to develop the younger players already contributing at the varsity level.
There is no guarantee that next season will begin with another nine-game winning streak, and replacing the experience of this year’s seniors will take time. But the returning talent is encouraging, particularly with freshmen already demonstrating the ability to contribute at a high level.
The longer these younger players work together, the more opportunities they will have to develop the communication and coordination that are so important to successful soccer. Saturday’s second-half performance offered a glimpse of what this team can accomplish when those pieces come together.
A Team That Deserved More Attention
One of my disappointments Saturday had nothing to do with the outcome on the field. Looking around the stands, I couldn’t help noticing how much smaller the crowd was than what we regularly see at Quincy football games.
Football has a long tradition of drawing large crowds in our community, and our football players deserve the support they receive. But so do the young women competing on Quincy’s soccer field, particularly after putting together one of the strongest records among the school’s fall sports teams.
They practiced, trained, traveled, and competed throughout the fall while balancing the academic responsibilities that come with being high school students.
Saturday was their opportunity to extend that season into the next round of district competition, and they fought for it until the final whistle. I wish more of our community had been there to witness the effort they put forward.
This is not about taking anything away from football or the other sports that already enjoy strong community support. Quincy has talented student-athletes competing in soccer, volleyball, cross-country, basketball, wrestling, and numerous other activities throughout the school year.
Those students work just as hard to represent their school, and their accomplishments deserve recognition regardless of how many people typically attend their games.
The Lady Jacks gave Quincy an exciting season, and the community has an opportunity to show its appreciation by making a greater effort to support these athletes when they return to the field next fall.
What This Means to You
For Quincy families, students, and sports fans, the Lady Jacks’ season is a reminder that some of the best athletic competition in our community takes place at games that don’t always draw the largest crowds.
An 11-win season and a place among the state’s top-ranked teams are significant accomplishments for any high school program. For the students involved, those results represent months of practice, conditioning, teamwork, and commitment. For younger athletes watching from the sidelines, they provide an example of what can be accomplished through dedication and hard work.
Parents with children interested in soccer have an established high school program for their young athletes to look toward. The success of freshmen Allanah and Briellah Longwill also demonstrates that younger players can earn meaningful opportunities when they develop their skills and are prepared to compete.
For the rest of our community, supporting student-athletes does not require much more than showing up. Attend a soccer match, bring your family to a volleyball game, cheer for the cross-country runners, or make plans to support another school team whose games you haven’t attended before.
Our students notice when their community supports them, and those experiences become part of what they remember about representing their hometown.
More Than the Final Score
There is no way to make Saturday’s loss less disappointing for the players who worked so hard to extend their season. Quincy had opportunities to tie the game, and the Lady Jacks’ relentless second-half attack made it clear they believed they could still win until the final whistle.
But the final score tells only a small part of the story of this team.
The Lady Jacks won their first nine games, climbed to No. 4 in Washington, finished the regular season with 11 victories, and earned a place in the district tournament. They overcame difficult stretches, continued competing, and demonstrated considerable talent throughout the fall.
Eight seniors will move on, leaving behind their contributions to a successful season and a group of younger players ready to carry the program forward. Those returning athletes have already shown that Quincy soccer has a promising future, even if the road to next year’s success will require considerable work.
Saturday’s game may have ended one goal short of the result Quincy wanted, but it did not diminish what these young women accomplished.
To the entire Lady Jacks soccer team, congratulations on an outstanding season. You represented the 98848 well, and your community has plenty of reasons to be proud.
Well done, ladies.
