DUVALL – The Mount Si Wildcat girls soccer team went to Duvall last Tuesday night and faced off with its Valley rivals from Cedarcrest. For Mount Si fans, it was their first opportunity to see the Wildcats’ new offensive weapon, freshman Nikki Stanton, and she did not disappoint.

Stanton assisted on all three of Mount Si’s goals as the Wildcats’ offense surged in the second half to score a 3-1 win over the Red Wolves, a team that went deep into the state playoffs last season.

“You just have to go as hard as you can and if you do, good things will happen,” Stanton said.

Stanton assisted on goals scored by Jessica Oliver (60th minute), Collette Hatch (78th minute, stoppage time) and Amy Torget (79th minute, also in stoppage time). Cedarcrest’s lone goal was scored in the 14th minute by Amanda Johnson. A second Cedarcrest goal was called back on a offside in the 26th minute.

Mount Si coach Darren Brown was pleased with Stanton’s performance.

“I knew going into the season that Nikki’s would be a key asset for us all year. I think she showed it tonight,” Brown said.

Stanton’s effort may turn out to be more significant for the Wildcats as the Kingco season opens up, especially since the team has tentatively lost star junior forward Kirsten Mills. Mills did not make the trip to Cedarcrest and may not be playing this season.

Hatch was pleased with her team’s effort in the second half.

“I think we really picked it up compared to the first half, like our energy level, we were really conditioned, kept it going and everyone just was up there ready to score,” Hatch said.

Red Wolves coach Robert Johnson was excited about his team’s chances in the Cascade Conference despite the nonleague loss.

“The outlook is still positive. We did a lot of great things that we can build on throughout the rest of the season. There are certainly things on which to improve, but we have time and a state championship is still a goal of ours,” Johnson said by e-mail.

Cedarcrest played the last several minutes of the contest without its star Amanda Johnson, who injured her ankle after being tripped by a Mount Si player. Her prognosis is day-to-day.

Mount Si opens its home schedule on Thursday against Sammamish at Mount Si High School. Game time is 7:30 p.m. The Totems are a young team this season, led by junior forwards Kristi Staley and Shannon Regan, and have an excellent goal tender in junior Kelsey Hasselblad.