The King’s Way Christian girls soccer team played its final game of the season on its home field Saturday, but for the first time, the Knights walked off triumphant.
The previous four seasons for the Knights ended with losses in the state tournament on their home field.
But on Saturday, MacKenzie Ellertson scored two goals and Lucy Muhammadi added a third as King’s Way Christian beat King’s of Seattle 3-1 on Saturday to clinch the first trip to the semifinals in school history.
“I’ve been dreaming of this for the past five years, since my eighth-grade year,” Ellertson said. “It feels so good to finally make it through.”
Ellertson, as well as other current seniors, began playing for King’s Way as eighth graders, taking advantage of a WIAA rule that allows eighth graders to play for small programs.
King’s Way was just building its program under coach Tina Ellertson, McKenzie’s mom.
The Knights lost in the first round of state to University Prep in 2014 and 2015, to Meridian in the first round in 2016 and to Seattle Academy in the quarterfinals last year – all on the Knights’ home turf.
But King’s Way used the home-field edge to its advantage Saturday, striking quickly with McKenzie Ellertson scoring the eighth minute.
“It really set the tone and allowed us to settle in because we knew we were going to have to deal with their special players and how they attacked,” Tina Ellertson said of the early 1-0 lead. “And I think that first goal helped us believe and then dig in a bit.”
Lucy Muhammadi made 2-0 in the 21st minute when she punched in a deflection of an Ellertson corner kick.
But King’s did not go away. Sarah Nielsen’s goal off a header in the 30th minute made it 2-1. And King’s looked to even the match when they came out with big pressure to open the second half.
“Our main goal was just keeping our head, staying focused, stay calm and not letting them in our heads,” MacKenzie Ellertson said. “Not letting the ref or any of the situations get in our head. Just playing our game.”
Muhammadi added: “And just being united, and communicating the whole time.”
In the 63rd minute, Ellertson took a quick counter at midfield and streaked down field to make 3-1.
“Mac was special today — very, very, special in doing her job,” Tina Ellertson said.
King’s Way Christian will face Klahowya of Silverdale in the 1A semifinals at 4 p.m. Friday in Shoreline.
Saturday’s win left Tina Ellertson in a reflective mood.
“I got into coaching and King’s Way believed in me to lead a group,” the coach said.” And to just be here for five years and to see some of these players come all the way through it to get us here, it makes me a little bit emotional. I love my King’s Way family. I love my King’s Way home. And I’m just so proud.”
