Despite seeing a halftime lead slip away, Sequim’s girls soccer team eked out an important point in a 2-1 (4-1) penalty-kick shootout loss to Class 3A Bainbridge on Sept. 21.

“They are really solid, and it was a fun match to be a part of,” Wolves coach Ken Garling said. “Girls on both sides fought hard and did well.”

Sequim nearly gave up a goal in the game’s early moments. In the fifth minute, Sequim fouled a Bainbridge player in the box and she kicked the penalty kick over the bar, Garling noted.

“We survived that early scare,” he said.

Sequim turned the tables in the 30th minute on a Hannah Wagner goal, and held the lead for the rest of the half and portion of the second frame.

Bainbridge equalized in the 61st minute.

“They were able to break through and beat our defender up their right side, and they were able to slot one in past our keeper,” Garling said.

The game remained a draw through the next 20 minutes of regulation and two overtime periods before heading to a penalty-kick shootout.

“They made theirs, and we couldn’t quite make ours,” Garling said.

“We work on penalty kicks in training, so we will provide some reminders on how to pick your spots, stepping up to the line and having confidence,” he said. “The girls know that, if this comes up, we need to be prepared, because it’s pretty likely we will have another shootout this season.”

Garling said Rileigh Van Dyken was active and involved in the midfield.

“Defensively, our No. 6, Rileigh Van Dyken, was just outstanding in controlling the midfield,” Garling said. “Bainbridge was trying to slot through balls to their forwards, and she sat back and played those passing lanes any time they tried to feed their striker.”

The Wolves’ Sept. 23 game at Bremerton was canceled.

Sequim was slated to host Kingston on Sept. 28 — results were not available at press time.

Coming up

The Wolves are at North Mason on Sept. 30 and Port Angeles on Oct. 5 before hosting Olympic on Oct. 7; game time is 6:45 p.m.

Sequim is as North Kitsap on Oct. 12 and Bainbridge on Oct. 14 before playing three games in four days the following week: at home against Klahowya on Oct. 18, at home against Bremerton on Oct. 19, and at Kingston on Oct. 21.

The Wolves finish the regular season at home against North Mason on Oct. 26.

Sequim’s Rileigh VanDyken, right, vies for the ball with Bainbridge’s Laine Romney in the Wolves’ home loss on Sept. 21. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

Sequim’s Jennyfer Gomez, right, vies for the ball with Bainbridge’s Gabby Weis in the Wolves’ home match-up on Sept. 21. Bainbridge won on penalty kicks after the teams were knotted 1-1 at the end of regulation. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

Sequim midfielder Taryn Johnson, center, vies for possession with Bainbridge’s Maddy Brown (10) and Ellie Murray (11) in the second half of the Wolves’ match-up with the 3A Spartans on Sept. 21. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell