Sequim’s girls soccer squad closed the regular season with a pair of wins last week as they prep for the postseason.
The Wolves (11-3 in Olympic League and overall), the fifth seed in the West Central District 3 tourney, were scheduled to play at Enumclaw on Oct. 31; results were not available at press time.
With a win, Sequim would earn an automatic berth in the class 2A state tourney and would face the winner of the Fife-Highline on Nov. 2 in the district semifinals. A loss would send the Wolves to the consolation semis to face either Lindbergh or Franklin Pierce in a home game (likely in Port Angeles) on Nov. 2, needing to win that and a Nov. 4 game as well for a state tourney berth.
Finishing with a ‘w’
The Wolves received a strong challenge from the Buccaneers on Oct. 26 in the regular season finale for each squad, coming away with a 3-0 victory.
“We wanted to finish strong and get a shutout and prepare ourselves for the postseason,” SHS coach Ken Garling said.
“We were able to do all those things, but it didn’t come easy. Kingston put up a fight. They challenged us to be on our toes in our passing game and we really had to work for it.”
Raimey Brewer found cousin Taryn Johnson for Sequim’s first goal just before halftime.
“Raimey was playing our No. 8 in central midfield and she found Taryn with an open through ball,” Garling said. “We were trying to widen them out and she found some space through the middle to hit Taryn.”
The Wolves defended the one-goal lead for 30 minutes before adding some insurance.
Brewer’s corner kick was on target and Johnson headed in Sequim’s second goal in the 73rd.
Freshman Olive Bridge added the third goal in the 78th minute.
“A great solo effort on a slow, driven, left-footed shot just inside the goal box,” Garling said.
Senior night shutout
Sequim celebrated its six-member senior class with a six-goal salute on senior night, shutting down Bremerton 6-0 in the Wolves’ regular season girls soccer home finale on Oct. 24.
“We wanted to put last week behind us; it was kind of a tough week,” Garling said of a pair of losses to North Kitsap and Bainbridge, both of which saw Sequim score tying goals only to see those goals wiped off by referee whistles.
“We were focused on finishing strong and celebrating our seniors and see them go out on a high note.”
Johnson, the program’s all-time leading goal scorer, added to her career tally with two more goals. She got the Wolves on the board in the 10th minute.
“[It was] a solo effort from about 20 yards out and it was a beautiful shot, high and to the left past the keeper,” Garling said. “It was good to see her get back on the score sheet.”
Johnson had a foot in Sequim’s next goal, assisting on the first of senior Jenny Gomez’s two goals in the 24th minute.
“Taryn beat her defender and sent a low driven cross to the middle of the box and Jenny was there and put her foot out and put it in goal,” Garling said.
Gomez added her second score before halftime on what Garling called a “another great solo effort from 25 yards out, a rocket of a shot” to put Sequim up 3-0 at the break.
“We wanted to keep pressing, possessing and passing in the second half,” Garling said. “The weather was miserable, but the girls didn’t have any problems. We pressured them into a bad clearance in the 44th minute that led to an own goal.”
Gomez then assisted on Johnson’s second goal to go up 5-0.
“Jenny in the center saw a seam opening up between two defenders and she sent a fantastic through ball, and Taryn is so quick, she beat the defender and was one-on-one versus the goalkeeper for the goal.”
Senior Kaia Lestage finished the game out in style, scoring on a Sequim penalty kick.
“Kaia Lestage wanted to score on senior night and she booted it right in,” Garling said. “So our girls had six goals for six seniors.”
Seniors Mikiah Winter, Eve Breithaupt and Teagan Moore also were honored.
Sequim plays winner-to-state game
Sequim’s Wolves, ranked No. 15 in the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s RPI index, was slated to play at Enumclaw in a winner-to-state, loser-to-consolation-bracket game in the Class 2A Bi-District Tournament on Tuesday, Oct. 31; results were not available at press time. Get an update at sequimgazette.com. The West Central District tournament is scheduled for Oct. 31-Nov. 4 at various locations; see wiaadistrict3.com for the full district bracket.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim’s Raimey Brewer traps the ball in Bremerton territory as the Wolves take on the Knights at home on Oct. 24.
