Close, but no ‘W’ – and no playoff game.

Sequim’s Wolves came within two goals of extending their season and nearly pulled off a dramatic upset last week but finally fell to rival North Mason on Oct. 29, the final game of Sequim’s 2009 campaign.

Freshman Hillary Smith scored two goals – one in each half – but saw her Wolves fall 3-2 to the visiting Bulldogs.

North Mason clinched the third and final league berth to the district tournament. The Bulldogs play at Steilacoom, the Nisqually League’s No. 2 seed, on Nov. 5.

"We put some things together: some passes, some crosses, a lot more support and more movement," Sequim coach Enid Halewyn said. "We’ve been dying in most of our second halves (and) we had only one sub in the second half. Even though they were tired, they kept it together."

Sequim had tied the Bulldogs earlier this season and needed a win to advance to districts.

Two days earlier, Sequim kept Port Townsend at bay, trailing 2-1 at halftime.

But the Redskins exploded in the second half for four goals, handing Sequim a 6-1 loss.

Anna LaBeaume scored Sequim’s lone goal with a first-half penalty kick.

"It was perfect, a great shot," Halewyn said.

"It’s another one of those games that the score wasn’t an indication of how we played," she said. "We just fatigued the second half."

Sequim said goodbye to three seniors last week: LaBeaume, Turi Anderson and Kyla Hall.

Halewyn said she expects to see Sequim players involved with the Peninsula College indoor league this winter and an outdoor spring league in Agnew in 2010.

Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.