TACOMA — In 12 years as head coach of Columbia River’s girls soccer program, Filly Afenegus has witnessed just about every outcome imaginable.
Still, the veteran coach isn’t immune to occasional nerve-wracking moments that evoke stress and anxiety for everyone watching.
Friday was one of those moments for Afenegus, who watched from the sideline as the Rapids prevailed in penalty kicks for a 1-0 win over West Valley in the Class 2A girls soccer state semifinals. River will face 2A Greater St. Helens League foe Ridgefield in Saturday’s championship game at 5:30 p.m.
“Every (final four) we come to just plays out a little bit differently. It’s like a good movie — you don’t know how it’s going to end,” the coach said. “You’re just on pins and needles, and it’s kind of how I think we all felt.”
Six rollercoaster rounds of penalty kicks featured three saves from River goalkeeper Ruby Ayers, two shots that bounced off the post and another West Valley shot that clanked off the cross bar.
The latter attempt set up River’s Allie Wikstrom to take the decisive sixth kick after teammates Peyton Dukes and Raegan Dukes had converted earlier in the shootout.
The junior, who subbed into the game for the PK shootout from the bench, calmly put through the game-winner, sending the No. 3 seed Rapids (20-2) into a post-game celebration on the pitch at Mount Tahoma High School.
“I really enjoy taking PKs … and it’s really easy for me to stay calm,” said Wikstrom, effectively serving as the antidote for her coach. “Obviously I’m super scared and it is a scary moment, but just to overcome that and stay calm … I’m good at that.”
The Rapids’ winning moment in the shootout was all made possible by an inspired performance from Ayers, the Rapids’ junior keeper who came up with five saves across 90 minutes of regulation and overtime.
None was bigger than late in the second golden-goal overtime period when West Valley’s Jenna Howe found space in River’s back line and took an uncontested shot on goal saved by Ayers. Moments later when the whistle blew for the end of OT, River supporters began chanting her name in unison.
“We’ve been working on those all week, 1v1s in that moment, so I think that’s a big aspect. And, my coaches and my teammates put so much support into me,” Ayers said.
“Today just proves how great of a goalie she is,” River senior captain Raya Janson added. “She’s amazing, and I think it’s so funny because we practice PKs constantly, I was the first one up and I missed it. But, at least it shows for the other players because everyone puts so much work in.”
Janson was part of a River back line that was put to the test against a potent West Valley (20-1-1) attack that had scored 133 goals across 21 games, and continued at a fast pace throughout Friday’s semifinal. After a slow start, the second half was something more closely resembling a slugfest between two talented teams, as Afenegus described.
“We always talk about bend don’t break,” Afenegus said. They did bend, but they didn’t concede so they did a great job. We were just rotating players through there, so everybody came off the bench and played in the back as well. They were fantastic. … Our defense has been the foundation that we’ve built everything off of for the whole year.”
The Rapids will return to the state final for the first time since 2022 when they won their fifth state championship. In their bid for a sixth, they’ll face a Ridgefield team that’s won two of three head-to-head meetings this season, most recently in the district championship two weeks ago.
River players aren’t taking the moment for granted, whether they’re playing in their first — or last — state championship game.
“To be back in the finals, it means the world to me,” Janson said. “I’m not playing soccer after this, tomorrow is my last game ever. So, yeah, it means a lot.”
“This is my first time going to a championship, so I’m really excited to see the energy (and) what everybody brings,” Ayers said.
