Despite controlling play for long stretches, the Skyview girls soccer team saw its season end in the way many do at state playoff time: on the short end of a penalty-kick tie breaker.
Olympia outscored Skyview 5-3 in penalty kicks on Wednesday at Kiggins Bowl after the teams played to a 2-2 draw over 90 minutes in the first round if the Class 4A state tournament.
Olympia hosts the winner between Tahoma and Skyline, who played later Tuesday. That match will be played on Saturday.
Skyview’s season ends. The Storm (12-5-3) were the Greater St. Helens League runners up and qualified for state as the District 4 champion.
The difference in the tie breaker was a nice, diving save by Olympia goalkeeper Sophie Kabel. All five Bears converted their kicks.
Kabel made a big play in overtime to get her team into penalty kicks. She made a lunging stop to deny a Storm two-on-one break. Later in overtime, a difficult one-time chance for Sydney Miles went high.
“In the overtime we just brought it. You could tell we had control, we just couldn’t find the opportunity to finish,” said Taylor Kernion, who scored one of Skyview’s goals.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Skyview senior Sydnee Smith said the way the Storm played after halftime — for each other — was indicative of the strides the squad made this fall.
“Through the course of the season there was a huge change in our team and that showed these last two weeks,” Smith said. “I am extremely proud of my team. We never gave up during the season. We kept fighting. Unfortunately we weren’t able to find the back of the net, but the players never once put their heads down.”
After a back-and-forth first half ended at 2-2, Skyview kept possession better in the second half. But the good buildup play didn’t produce a go-ahead goal.
“We definitely gained momentum with the ball on the floor and just playing to feet. I think that’s the way we dominate,” Miles said.
“My kids got a half of playoff experience, then settled down,” Skyview coach Darin DeGrande said. “Once they settled down, we played really well.”
Olympia twice took first-half leads, with goals in the 16th minute from Nicole Fesenbeck and in the 26th minute from Jenna Killman.
Both times Skyview answered. First, Kernion worked her way into the penalty area and scored with a low shot from 12 yards in the 19th minute. In the 34th minute, Grace Eversaul took a short pass from Molly Beaman and found space for a shot that found the side netting.
From there, the Storm were the more dangerous team, but no more goals came.
OLYMPIA 3, SKYVIEW 2 (PKs)
Olympia
Goals (assists) — Nicole Fesenbeck (Sadie Forte), Jenna Killman (unassisted). Goalkeeper saves — Sophie Kabel 6.
Skyview
Goals (assists) — Taylor Kernion (unassisted), Grace Eversaul (Molly Beaman). Goalkeeper saves — Katie Isaac 1, Michaela Sanchez 1.
Halftime — 2-2.
Penalty kicks — Olympia 5, Skyview 3.
