PORT ANGELES — All-time Sequim scoring leader Taryn Johnson’s soccer career is just getting started.
Johnson is leading her Wolves team to a 9-1 record with the team’s goal of going to state. On Nov. 8, she will formally take the next step in her career, officially signing to play for Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Minnesota State isn’t just any four-year school, either. The Mavericks are ranked No. 15 at the NCAA Division II level with an 8-1-4 record. It’s a tough team and tough to make.
Taryn Johnson, Sequim soccer.
But Johnson has a sterling resume, having shattered Sequim scoring records in her career. She scored two goals in her freshman season, 24 in her sophomore year, 26 as a junior and 20 goals so far in 10 games, with a six-goal game (Olympic) and a five-goal game (North Mason).
That’s a staggering 72 goals in her high school career. Despite teams focusing their entire defense on Johnson all year, she has found a way to not only continue scoring, but to help set up her teammates. She had four assists in one win over North Mason. She has clutch goals, too, getting a game-winner in double overtime in a tight, defensive battle against Bainbridge.
Johnson, who is also a good basketball player for the Wolves and the school’s homecoming queen, said there were a lot of things she liked about the Mavericks’ program. When she visited Minnesota State, she was impressed with the “awesome campus” and friendly atmosphere and coaches. She also took a trip to St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn., but chose Minnesota State, partly because St. Mary’s was a much smaller school.
“I even like their purple and yellow colors,” she said — the same as the Sequim Wolves’ colors.
When Johnson was a freshman, she played against Port Angeles’ Millie Long. Long was a big scoring star for the Roughriders and showed that her skills could translate to the college game with a wildly successful career at Peninsula College and then four goals in her second game for Cal Poly, Humboldt, which like Minnesota State is a Division II team.
Johnson said she continues to look at Long as an example of how to succeed from small towns to the college level.
“I definitely looked up to Millie. She was such a good competitor. I hope some of the girls here look at me the way I looked at her,” Johnson said.
Coach Ken Garling said Johnson has the speed and ability, but that isn’t what makes her so different from the other players.
“It’s her work ethic,” Garling said. “What separates her is how hard she works. It’s very rare to see a kid so determined and so motivated.
“That determination she has … the other kids feed off of that. We always tell them ‘do not quit. Continue to fight.’ She epitomizes that.”
For now, Johnson isn’t worried about Minnesota State. She is concentrating on helping the Wolves not only make the state tournament, but make noise in the tournament.
“I honestly believe we can do it. We’ve been working really hard. I’m so proud of each and every one of my teammates,” she said. Though she has had some huge goal-scoring games, she is also concentrating on getting her teammates involved, bringing up her four-assist game. Jenny Gomez is also having a big scoring season and other players such as Raimey Brewer, Olive Bridge and Nikoline Updike have been scoring goals for the Wolves.
“I’m doing my best to give other girls opportunities,” she said.
“We talked about this. As teams become more aware of her, that opens up the game for other people. Taryn has said, ‘I’ll assist people and set them up’,” Garling said.
