FEDERAL WAY — With an unbeaten streak of 23 games in hand entering Saturday’s Class 2A girls soccer state championship, Columbia River was accustomed to playing ahead most of the season.

But after more than 60 scoreless minutes of action, the Rapids and their opponent, West Valley of Spokane, were beginning to feel the squeeze of a game setting up for one defining play to decide a winner.

West Valley senior Jenna Howe made that play, running the right wing and sending a cross into a crowd in front of goal, where the pass pinballed off Brielle White and Lauren Matthew into the net. The Eagles put the finishing touches on a 1-0 win and an unbeaten, 22-0 season to claim their first state championship in program history.

The Rapids (22-1-1) finished runner-up for the second time in as many

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