POULSBO — North Kitsap found itself down 1-0 to Olympic in a match that could have had major implications on the race for the league championship.
But if history was any indicator, it was only a matter of time until the Vikings tied the game, sending it beyond the 80 regulation minutes. The only question was when it would happen.
The answer came in the 65th minute as Mia St. Peter sprang Charlotte Bond on a give-and-go play with a full head of steam down the left side. Bond laid a perfect pass to the feet of freshman Kamora McMillian, who buried it in the back of the net to level the match.
Yet another game between these two clubs would end up in penalty kicks. North Kitsap scored on all four of its chances to defeat Olympic, 4-2, in the shootout and take the match, 2-1.
“This team is all about heart, that’s the way they’ve been the last couple years,” North Kitsap head coach Greg St. Peter said. “There are times when they don’t look that great, or don’t play very consistent and then, but we still pull through.”
Alaina Marcotte scored the game-winner for the Vikings. Bond, Audrey Zinn and Mia St. Peter also converted on their chances.
Keeper Sophia Pixton turned the shootout in her team’s favor when she made a diving save to her right on Olympic’s Kiarra Richards. Gabby Luty and Zoie Matheny scored for the Trojans.
Olympic was firing on all cylinders to open play and had several scoring opportunities early on, including a seventh minute opportunity in which Luty hit the crossbar on a set piece.
Hanna Troy broke the ice just before half time, dribbling her way right through the middle of the defense and scoring on a shot against the grain.
“We totally controlled [play], we took twice as many shots as they did,” said Olympic coach Steve Haggerty said. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t finish and that’s a credit to their goalkeeper situation, they stepped up and did a really nice job in goal, Sophie did.”
The Vikings and the Trojans now each have 27 points in the standings with one match to go. It is unclear what the tiebreaker would be if the two teams end up with the same number of points after their respective regular season finales on Oct. 23. North Kitsap travels to North Mason and Olympic hosts Port Angeles. However, unlike past seasons, the team that finishes No. 1 in the Olympic League will have the chance to win the No. 1 seed out of the district tournament.
But the two teams will be focused on winning their matches, and can worry about the administrative issues later.
“We’re not done,” St. Peter said.
— Mark Krulish is a reporter for Kitsap News Group. He can be reached at mkrulish@soundpublishing.com. Follow him on Twitter @MKrulishKDN.
