Federal Way finishes just short of state berth in loss Puyallup

Published 4:58 pm Thursday, November 12, 2015

Federal Way’s girls soccer team nearly made it to state, but fell short against Puyallup in a winner-to-state, loser out game as the Vikings won 4-2 on Nov. 5.

After earning the fourth seed out of the South Puget Sound League North for district playoffs, the Eagles started their quest for a state playoff berth with a game against the Stadium Tigers on Nov. 3.

Anjilia Sumandig and Audrey Shin both scored for the Eagles as they defeated the Tigers 2-1. The Eagles gave up a goal to Kristi Williams in the 65th minute, but were able to withstand a late push by Stadium.

The win earned them a match with the Puyallup Vikings at Viking Stadium in University Place.

The Vikings were a high scoring team, scoring at least two goals in all but three of their previous 15 matches.

It took awhile for both teams to get going. Puyallup was the first to put a point on the board in the 21st minute when Saige Lyons found Katelynn Wood after a corner kick and Wood buried her shot in the bottom corner of the net.

A minute later, it looked as though Puyallup would take a 2-0 lead after a collision involving the goalkeeper near the net. The goal was waved off for illegal contact.

The Vikings took the 1-0 lead into the half.

Puyallup quickly added another goal in the second half when Lyons scored in the 50th minute on a shot from 18 yards out after beating the defenders.

Despite the two-goal deficit, Federal Way was not ready to give up.

The Eagles responded with a goal of their own just five minutes later. Puyallup goalkeeper Brooke Johnston was unable to cleanly handle a shot she had stopped. Rachel Kimura raced toward the net and put the ball into it just as Johnston was diving for it again.

Trailing 2-1, Federal Way had new life but it did not last long.

Noelle Kock Wah Ng and Jordyn Bartelson scored goals for Puyallup in the 64th and 65th minute, extending the lead to 4-1 over the Eagles.

Federal Way scored the final goal of the night when Kayla Peterson’s header found its way just underneath the crossbar, but over the outstretched hand of the keeper in the 72nd minute.

The Eagles had a few more opportunities but were unable to score.

“I got nine seniors and three juniors and the rest are young underclassmen and I would say that they’ve fought every game this season,” Federal Way head coach Lynde Clarke said. “With injuries and sicknesses and family issues, I think we’ve come out on top all season.”

Clarke finished by saying she would miss the senior players as they move on.

The Eagles finished the season with a 7-7-2 record.