SUMNER--If anyone had a reason to be upset that the Evergreen Lutheran girls soccer season went all the way to the state "final four", it was Eagle girls basketball coach Jeff Kurbis.

After all, his team was still missing players since practices started Nov. 15.

But he was smiling as he stood looking out at the Sunset Chev Stadium turf after the Eagles finished third with a 3-1 win over Warden of Eastern Washington.

"Tryouts were Monday, but half of my team is right here," Kurbis said. "I don't mind."

The faithful from the Class 2B school located in the Woodmont area where Federal Way and Des Moines converge seemed happy that their team captured the third place trophy with the consolation final win after losing to Napavine of Eastern Washington by a 2-0 score the day before.

Evergreen Lutheran came out strong in the Saturday, Nov. 20 game against the Warden Cougars, but did not score until 35 minutes, 23 seconds remained on the second half clock.

Megume Poetter broke the ice at that time, working her way up close to the net and putting the ball into the left side of the goal netting.

An apparent score for Warden was called back by the officials with 33:40 left after it had slipped through the goalie's hands, and Evergreen Lutheran scored next instead.

Katelyn Weber scored on a Kailey Fuegmann assist to make it 2-0.

But the game was far from over, as Warden scored with 20:25 remaining to close within one goal at 2-1.

Taylor Edson scored on a Nicole Guerra assist on a penalty kick in the goal box.

Edson slammed it hard into the left side, even as Eagles goalie Dallas Parker heroically dove in that direction.

Evergreen Lutheran was not able to call the game secure until Weber struck unassisted to make it 3-1 with 7:28 left to play.

The Eagles finished with a 6-5 shots on goal advantage, with both teams having three of those shots on frame. Parker and Warden goalie Deianeira Caudle finished with two saves apiece.

Helen Chung took home the "Just Play Fair" sportsmanship award for Evergreen Lutheran and Miexy Gonzalez earned the award for Warden.

The afternoon before, Napavine scored with 1:57 to play in the first half as Lacie Smith shot the ball into the left side after recovering a missed shot by Elaun Sherwood.

The Tigers cemented the win with a goal into the right side with 4:22 left in the second half.

Kalli Brown did the scoring honors on an unassisted play.

Napavine outshot Evergreen Lutheran, 10-6, but the Eagles had five shots on frame to the Tigers' two.

Hazel Dekoker made five saves for Napavine and Parker had two for Evergreen Lutheran.

Iraina Nitz earned the sportsmanship award for the Eagles after that match and Josie Dekoker earned the award for Napavine.

The Eagles finished with an 11-4-3 overall record under head coach Stan Cole and assistants Del Valerio and Tony Natalie.

Graduating from this Evergreen Lutheran team are Taylor Swanson, Megume Poetter, Ruth Nitz, Kailey Fuegmann, Hae Joo Choi, Katelyn Weber and Ally Addleman. The rest of the roster is junior Selah Elmquist, freshmen Dallas Parker and Cheyenne Hilliard and sophomores Helen Chung, Sarah Lee, Selena Kim, Autumn Echols, Iraina Nitz, Colleen Croy, Michelle Rucker, Daseul Lee and Mackenzie Valerio.