Coates Sees the Field Differently, and It’s Paying Off for Peninsula

It’s apparent when she’s on the pitch that Peninsula Seahawks soccer player Ella Coates rarely lets anything — or anyone — catch her off guard.

Whether she’s slipping past a defender or carving out space for a teammate, her game is built on finding freedom where others see barriers.

“Discipline leads to freedom,” said Peninsula’s first-year head coach, Jose Brambila. “If you do things the right way, you should have the freedom to express yourself, even on the soccer field. But you have to earn that freedom; Ella has earned it.”

It’s a fitting approach for a player who thrives when she’s unleashed.

Coates’s natural athleticism and game sense have made her one of the top high school forwards in the country, even as a junior. PrepSoccer.com ranks her No. 18 nationally at her position and No. 84 overall, drawing attention from college programs across the nation. But if the weight of expectations is heavy, Coates doesn’t show it.

While the team fell short of its lofty goals — losing both the league and district titles to rival Gig Harbor — there’s no doubt Coates, a two-time all-conference and all-state performer, was one of the driving forces behind their successes. She and the Seahawks girls’ soccer team have become perennial state tournament contenders, and this year was no different. Despite a roster full of injured seniors and bright-eyed freshmen, the Seahawks finished with a 14-4-1 record and earned their fourth consecutive state tournament appearance before falling to Ridgeline, 3-1, in the second round.

“This year was about learning,” Brambila said. “Our young players, especially on the backline, had to grow fast. Ella and our juniors carried a lot of the responsibility, and they handled it with maturity.”

While Coates was the centerpiece, scoring 11 goals and providing nine assists, Peninsula’s success this season came from a collective effort by the junior class.

Forward Nora Sutherland led the team with 15 goals, while Maya Rodgers notched a team-high 12 assists. Together, the trio accounted for 34 of the team’s 41 goals. Goalkeeper Brooklyn Finch made 81 saves and allowed only 1.5 goals per game to help anchor the defense. All four players will return next season.

“Our juniors stepped up and mentored the freshmen, especially during the big games, and the freshmen really rose to the challenge,” Coates said. “That’s going to give us an extra step next year.”

Coates has always been a step ahead. Whether shedding defenders with stellar ball control or dissecting defenses with her high soccer IQ, she has a knack for seeing the game unfold before anyone else. Her poise on the field stems from years of experience against top-tier competition. When she’s not playing for her high school team in the fall, she spends the rest of the year with Washington Premier, one of the state’s top club soccer teams. That background is evident every time she touches the ball.

“Iron sharpens iron,” Brambila said. “Playing against some of the best is helping her become one of the best. She’s the kind of player you want with the ball at her feet.”

As her junior year winds down, Coates is taking everything she’s learned—hard work, discipline, and passion—and using it to prepare for a critical recruiting season.

“It’s what I’m passionate about, so I don’t mind playing soccer year-round,” Coates said. “The traveling for tournaments, the competing, and prioritizing schoolwork all help me stay organized and focused. I think it’ll prepare me for life after soccer.”

The coming months will feature a series of showcases where college coaches will evaluate her and her club teammates, opportunities Coates knows are crucial. While she’ll run sprint events for the Seahawks track team this spring, she admits it’s “just to get faster for soccer.” She hopes to commit to a college by the end of the school year, easing the pressure for her senior soccer season.

Though she doesn’t know where she’ll play yet, she has plans for her academic future. Coates hopes to pursue a career in law, following in the footsteps of her grandfather.

“I feel like I’m quick-witted,” said the quick-footed forward. “And I’m good at arguing. When it comes to arguing with my sister or my mom, I always win.”

For now, Coates’s focus is on helping the Seahawks reach new heights.

“This year, I feel like we fell a little short of what we could’ve accomplished,” she said. “With most of our team returning and the foundation Coach Brambila has built, I know we can go even further. I can’t wait to see what we can do.”