Kennedy didn’t have much to play for, after having its world rocked from a 4-1 semifinal loss to Everett that came quickly and suddenly, if not, shockingly.

But play they did the next day, beating a good Shorecrest team, 2-0, in the 3rd-4th place state girls soccer match at Harry E. Lang Stadium in Lakewood Saturday, Nov. 22.

“Great way to end the season,” said Lancers head coach Doug Stamnes.

Shorecrest was no slouch. They won some tough games this season, playing against 4A and 3A competition in the Wesco. Some of those season wins for Shorecrest included beating 4A Shorewood, who beat nationally-ranked Kentwood, 2-1, in the quarterfinals before losing in the round of eight in the 4A tourney this year. Shorecrest also lost, 1-0, to Seattle Prep in their semifinal at state, who then lost, 5-0, to Everett in the championship.

It could have been Kennedy in that championship, perhaps. Everett, in the semifinal, scored six minutes in against the Lancers, and then scored again and again to the tune of a 3-0 lead before the game was 25 minutes old. That is an incredible deficit to come back from at a state level of play. Kennedy never gave up but did lose that one by the above score, actually outplaying Everett the second half ball-possession wise.

But that was then, this is about the “day after” 3rd-4th game against Shorecrest, a tough game to have to play. And these young ladies that were crying after the Everett loss on the bus as coach Stamnes tried to console them, were a different team against Shorecrest, from the beginning.

Kennedy outshot Shorecrest, 8-1, in the first half, including ones that went into the net like Amy Holland’s great free kick placed to Rebekah Kurle. Running onto the ball at the six-yard box area as Holland’s kick from 35 yards away sailed true to Kurle’s head, she knocked it in with a temple perfectly for a 1-0 lead.

This would give Kurle 38 goals on the season, as a sophomore -- A magnificent number that came against good competition. Mount Rainier and Lindbergh were contesting first place in the Seamount League with the Lancers this season.

Then the next goal was Holland again with an assist, and Kurle the goal for a 2-0 lead at the 36-minute mark of the first half.

“It hit off some of their players and Katy (Dunphy) passed it back to me and I crossed it and Rebekah scored,” said Holland, a senior on the team.

Holland was playing in her last high school game.

And Kurle scored her zillionth goal of the season?

“Yeah, basically,” said Holland, laughing.

Now why was yesterday not a game of more scoring and a better start and maybe beating Everett.

“That was heartbreaking,” said Holland. “Not everyone showed up. We were able to end on a happy note. So that was good.”

And this was it for you, your last high school game?

“Yeah, it’s kind of weird that it’s done now,” she said.

Some good things this season for the Lancers in the midst of again not quite getting what they got five years ago at this same place -- a state championship. The good was that they scored more goals than any season before, 109 goals in the season and 116 for the postseason included. Also, goals against was marvelous, led by senior sweeper Britney Carlson. She had only four goals scored against, with two of those “own goals” as Stamnes pointed out.

Another good season for the Lancers, who may have got put on their haunches against Everett in the semifinal from shock because Everett was a powerful, good team. Staying close early instead of down three points three-quarters of the way through the first half probably would have made a difference, for the intensity of this team would have kept them in it. But, anyway, they may have not shown up early, but they never gave up.

True character.

Also saying the same thing is the recovery of Friday’s loss to Everett to Saturday’s game having to be played so soon in such a tough situation.

And the Lancers played it well, as a couple captains spoke on the bus after beating Shorecrest.

“This (3rd-4th) game is the hardest game to play,” said captain Besagno, to her teammates.

“This has been my most fun season, so it’s perfect that it’s my senior year,” said Carlson.