The Sequim girls soccer team got a hat trick from Taryn Johnson, who scored her flurry of goals in just seven minutes, in a 4-1 road win over Olympic on Sept. 14, bouncing back from a season-opening loss to Port Angeles.
The Trojans got on the board first in the 28th minute.
“There was a little miscommunication on our defense,” Sequim coach Ken Garling said.
Then Johnson and her fellow Wolves went to work.
Johnson quickly answered with a goal in the 29th minute, then scored again in the 33rd, and collected her hat trick with a third goal in the 36th minute.
“Once we got the momentum back, I was happy with how the girls fought back,” Garling said. “With our speed, they couldn’t keep up with us. They didn’t have a solution to stop our attack.”
Hannah Wagner assisted on two of Johnson’s goals, while Jennyfer Gomez also picked up an assist.
Wagner missed on a penalty kick in the second half, but later broke through for a goal of her own in the 77th minute. Garling said Wagner had a number of opportunities and could have had a hat trick herself.
“We could have easily scored two or three more goals,” he said.
Addie Smith picked up the victory as the goalkeeper. Garling said the Wolves’ back line of Kaia Lestage and Bailey Genessie also played strong, keeping the Trojans from getting good chances.
“Our back line did a fantastic job keeping them at bay,” he said.
Two days later at home, a quick start offensively coupled with a game-long stout defensive performance lifted Sequim in a 2-0 win over perennial league contender North Kitsap.
“I was really pleased with the girls’ performance,” Garling said. “That’s a tough team and we were able to protect the home field and keep the clean sheet.”
Wagner headed in a corner kick sent in by Johnson in the fifth minute to stake the Wolves to the early advantage.
“We never really let down the intensity from there,” Garling said.
Garling said center backs Genessie and Lestage and outside backs Mikiah Winters and Alex Salas were up to the task defensively.
“Anytime we had any threat from North Kitsap, they just shut things down and did not allow them to make it through,” Garling said.
“And NK took shots from farther and farther out because they could not get through the 18(-yard box).”
Johnson was taken down in the penalty box on a run toward goal and converted the penalty kick in the 58th minute.
“We never looked back after that,” Garling said. “(Keeper) Addie Smith did a great job back there, our back line did a wonderful job, they were solid. “
Sequim was slated to host Bainbridge on Sept. 21; results were not available at press time.
Coming up
The Wolves are at Bremerton Sept. 23 and host Kingston on Sept. 28 before a road match-up with North Mason on Sept. 30.
Sequim’s Rileigh VanDyken, right gathers possession in the first half of the Wolves’ 2-0 win over visiting North Kitsap on Sept. 16. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Sequim’s Jennyfer Gomez, left, advances the ball in the first half of the Wolves’ 2-0 win over visiting North Kitsap on Sept. 16. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Sequim’s Jennyfer Gomez, right, and North Kitsap’s Natalie Holmberg vies for the ball in Sequim’s 2-0 home win on Sept. 16. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Sequim’s Taryn Johnson, right advances the ball into North Kitsap territory in the Wolves’ 2-0 win over North Kitsap on Sept. 16. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Sequim’s Alliyah Weber, right, looks to strike the ball as Tyra Zetty of North Kitsap looks on, in Sequim’s 2-0 win on Sept. 16. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Sequim’s Jennyfer Gomez, left, advances the ball and is guarded by North Kitsap’s Sydnee Hogan, in Sequim’s 2-0 home win on Sept. 16. Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
