TACOMA — Moments after an exhausting loss to Capital High School that ended the North Kitsap soccer team’s season, Viking head coach Teri Ishihara was doing something unexpected: she was smiling.

Ishihara, whose team had just lost in a shootout to the 8-5-1 Cougars, was proud of the Vikings’ run this year. She was also aware of one important fact: the young, speedy Vikings will graduate only two players from this year’s team.

“I’ve got all but two coming back,” Ishihara said.

The Vikings, who were 6-6 entering the game against Capital, had a chance to move on to district competition if they beat the Cougars.

If they lost, their season would be over.

The game was played at Stadium Bowl, next to Tacoma’s Stadium High School, an enormous carved bowl with 160 steps from the parking lot to the field.

The game started windy, cold, and scoreless, as each team fought to net the first goal but had no success.

The Vikings often found themselves on the defensive early, as the Cougars kicked the ball in front of the NK goal. The threat was ended only when Ally Gillespie cleared the ball toward safety.

Meanwhile, the North Kitsap team tried to be the first to reach the scoreboard, but found the shots falling short.

Shannon Smalley fired a long blast that was stopped by Capital’s keeper, Alexis Walker. Capital defender Sonja Cady managed to muscle Viking captain Lydia Ramsey away from the ball as she set the Vikings’ defense up.

The Cougars’ defense was challenged moments later when Smalley booted a corner kick just yards in front of the Capital goal.

But North’s Katy Pryde, who bolted forward to take the shot, found herself surrounded by four Cougars and unable to reach the ball.

The Vikings’ defense proved equally sound. A charging Lacey Cooper, who spent the afternoon in goal for the Vikings, reached the bouncing ball moments before oncoming Cougar Kourtnei Nibler.

The first half ended with no score. The second half continued that theme, with players from both teams trading shots, but not goals.

Capital’s Addie Hawkins fired a short shot that was gathered in by Cooper.

Moments later, Smalley booted another corner kick, and Pride managed to head it… but the ball rushed inches outside the goal.

Regulation ended with neither team having scored.

So, the game went into two five-minute overtime periods.

Both teams fought hard, but neither capitalized on their opportunities.

The most dramatic came when the Cougars’ Cady was awarded a penalty kick — a precious commodity during any game, but especially during double overtime in a playoff game.

Cady ran forward, reached the ball, and fired — only to have the shot snuffed by Cooper.

“That was huge,” Ishihara later said of Cooper’s play, which allowed the Vikings to make it to the end of the second overtime period.

With both overtime periods ending, as shootout ensued.

Each team had five kicks at the opposing goalie.

Whichever team made more would move on.

The Vikings’ Kim Skelly was stopped by the Cougars’ Walker, and Capital’s Cady hit her shot, making it 1-0.

Ashley Davis booted the ball past Walker, tying the score 1-1.

But the Cougars wouldn’t relent. Addie Hawkins booted the ball just beneath the upper bar, giving Capital a 2-1 lead.

The Vikings’ Rosie Zadra was stopped, and Capital’s Stefanie Cady took advantage, hitting her shot and making it 3-1.

When the Vikings’ Mariah Hanson’s shot was stopped by Walker, it made the 3-1 lead impossible to surmount, and a cheer went up from the Cougars.

“They played well for as young as they are,” Ishihara said after the game.

She thought the Vikings again had trouble with a turf field, a problem that has plagued them throughout the season; she said the team may practice indoors or on turf next year to make the adjustment easier.

“I was pleased by the way they played,” Ishihara said. “They’re a young team, and this was a good experience for them.”