New Leaders Get ‘Their Turn to Shine’ for Peninsula Soccer

I always told them their time was going to come.”

For the first time since José Brambila arrived at Peninsula High School in 2023, every player in the girls soccer program has grown under his leadership.

The Seahawks return this fall with five consecutive state tournament appearances and back-to-back league and district championship games. But they also begin the season without one of the most accomplished senior classes in recent program history.

Gone are two-time Puget Sound League-Nisqually Division MVP Nora Sutherland, all-league standouts Maya Rogers and Ella Coates, goalkeeper Brooklyn Finch, and fellow seniors Ada Labowitz and Macie McCabe — the core of a team that finished a 13-6-1 season and went undefeated in PSL regular-season play. Coate went on to play at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

For Brambila, replacing that group isn’t simply about finding goals or saves.

“It’s a very difficult task,” said Brambila, who was recognized last season by his fellow conference coaches as Nisqually Division Coach of the Year.

“Really, we’re replacing all of our leaders.” Brambila said that process started years ago.

“We have kids who’ve been in the program for the past three years who are ready to take on those leadership roles.”

Senior midfielder Alex Cichanski and defender Sierra Bierman, who both earned second-team All-PSL honors last season, enter the 2026 season as the team’s most experienced returners.

“It’s a rough place to be when you have to rebuild,” Brambila said. “But it gives me an opportunity to build the culture the way I want it to be — to kind of start fresh. Sometimes a fresh start is good.”

Peninsula has reached the Class 3A state tournament in each of Brambila’s three seasons, his first as an assistant and the past two as head coach, extending the program’s streak to five. But the Seahawks have also experienced the frustration of three straight first-round exits after reaching the Elite Eight in 2022.

Brambila said depth will be critical to changing that. Last year’s team entered the state tournament with several players injured or sick, including Coates, who missed the Seahawks opening round loss to Roosevelt.

“Having depth is important, and I’m looking to build that depth over the next few years,” Brambila said.

Junior forward Kaylee Dastrup returns after scoring key goals over the past two seasons, while junior Heidi Tenzler is expected to step into a larger attacking role after patiently waiting behind Coates and Rogers.

“I always told them their time was going to come,” Brambila said. “Now it’s their turn to shine.”

Junior Brooklyn Mays gives Peninsula another versatile weapon after moving from center back to an outside defensive role last season and contributing offensively as well.

Among the younger players, sophomore Emma Tucker returns after earning a starting role as a freshman, while sophomore midfielder Delia Labowitz impressed Brambila with her ball control and willingness to challenge defenders in one-on-one situations last year.

“I know these girls have dedicated a lot of time to club soccer,” he said. “I expect them to come into the fall much improved.”

The biggest question may be replacing Finch in goal.

Juniors Lexi Hauke and Brenna McCabe both gained experience at goalkeeper on the junior varsity team, though Brambila said competition for the position remains open to start the season.

How Peninsula plays may also change with the roster. Brambila said he prefers to adapt his system to the players he has rather than force them into a particular formation.

“We were very offensive before because we had a lot of firepower up front,” he said. “Now we have to wait and see what we have.”

The road to another league title will once again run through Gig Harbor, which has won five straight meetings between the crosstown rivals, including wins for the league and district championships the past two seasons. The two teams meet Oct. 27 at 7:30 p.m. at Roy Anderson Field.

“Our girls love playing Gig Harbor,” Brambila said. “They’re playing against friends they’ve known since they were little kids, so they’re always excited for those matches.”

Go to https://www.pugetsoundleague.org/ for the complete Peninsula girls soccer schedule.