TUKWILA — Peninsula’s bid at a repeat NWAC women’s soccer title ended abruptly in the second minute of overtime as the Pirates fell 1-0 in a championship game rematch against the Highline Thunderbirds.
Highline earned a throw-in on the left side of the field. The Thunderbirds’ Bella Keane sent the ball to teammate Fiona Dawson who bounced the ball down off her chest and away from diving Peninsula defender Halle Watson.
Highline’s leading scorer, Jewel Borland turned on the ball and sent a laser beam past Peninsula goalkeeper Akari Hoshino. The shot left no doubt, and Peninsula was denied its fourth women’s soccer championship in school history.
As the minutes grew short in Peninsula’s NWAC women’s soccer championship game with Highline on Sunday, the defense became more pronounced, the fouls harder and the offensive chances diminished.
Peninsula endured some nervous moments in the first half, but Highline managed just one shot on goal, that coming in stoppage time.
The ball was sent back to the Pirates’ Sam Guzman, she lost possession trying to pass across field at the far corner of Peninsula’s 18-yard box, and Highline’s Taylor Capuzzi pounced, breaking toward the goal and shooting low to the near post, right into the hands of Pirates’ goalkeeper Akari Hoshino.
The Thunderbirds had chances in the 4th minute when a cross into the box was headed wide left and the 14th when a free kick from the deep left side of the field was sent in on target but deflected away from danger.
Highline had a goal-scoring opportunity again in the 19th minute, a two-on-one break with the ball moving up the right side and sent to a wide open Kaci-Lyn Navarro who flubbed her chance at a shot from the top of the 18-yard box.
Peninsula’s offensive fortunes turned in the 24th minute when Kelly Kevershan sent a clever ball up to NWAC-leading scorer Sydney Warren. Warren tried to beat her defender with speed and earned a Pirates’ corner kick.
Nothing came of the corner, but the positive play seemed to spark the Pirates.
Peninsula earned a free kick deep and Malia Brudvik played the ball toward the goal box to Sarah Reiber. Reiber was rebuffed initially, but regained possession and sent a soft probing attempt toward goal that was push-saved over the crossbar by the Highline goalkeeper.
Jordyn DiCintio connected on a well-placed ball in the 36th minute but Warren’s soft right-to-left shot to the far post was gathered by Highline.
More in Tuesday’s Peninsula Daily News.
