By Gerardo Bolong
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

KENT - Two teams in search of league win No. 1 battled through 80 minutes of regulation play, two five-minute overtimes and a penalty kick shoot out before Mt. Rainier defeated Kent Meridian at French Field on Thurs., Oct. 9.

Mt. Rainier's SPSL Northwest record became 1-7 with a 2-7-1 overall mark. Kent Meridian remained winless at 0-8 Northeast and 11-10 overall.
"Our mind set was somewhat into the game and we communicated well," said Cierra Pinson who was responsible for setting up many of the Mt. Rainier offensive charges. "in the overtime, we had support play from all."
Kent Meridian shot first in the line up of penalty kick shooters.

Leah Ingold and Keeley Phommathirath of the Royals matched goals with Emily Rhodes and Kristina Flanagan through the first two rounds.

Madeline Fletcher made an easy straight on serve against KM shooter Olivia Porras that allowed Victoria Nelson to place MR ahead on a goal high into the upper left part of the net.

"I didn't know she would kick it right to me, but I worked with my coach during the summer on penalty kicks," said Fletcher. "We played well at times and were working on some things. Then, we were able to keep up the momentum."

Then, Kent Meridian's Rosa Hurtado and Mt. Rainier's Lizzy Burton both missed wide lift, leaving the Royals one more round to survive.

Karissa Vongkhamchanh drove a Royal goal low into the right side of the net to leave the verdict on the foot of Ram kicker Kennedy Bryant who lined a low left side winning goal for excited hugs and cheers from teammates.

"I looked to my right and saw the keeper looking that way, so I just kicked it left," said Bryant.

Regulation action ensued with both young and learning teams exchanging long balls and runs in search of an elusive victory. In a somewhat wide-open offensive display, the attackers continually kept Ram keeper Fletcher and Royal keeper Rosa Hurtado engaged in warding off shots.
In the fifth minute, senior midfielder Lizzy Burton got Mt. Rainier going with a breakaway goal, but Kent Meridian's Ingold was fouled near the Ram goal before scoring on a point blank penalty kick 11 minutes later.

As the offenses continued firing, Royal midfielder Porras fired home a yard goal off an assisting pass from Vongkhamchanh for a Royal 2-1 lead the 25th minute of first half play.

Sophomore Samantha Norberg squared the encounter at 2-2 with a penalty kick.

Similar action enveloped the field in the second half with Mt. Rainier pushing a bit harder although neither was able to score again.

The Rams had an edge in the first overtime and the Royals were marginally in control of the second scoreless overtime period before the shoot out produced the final result.

"The energy and intensity in the first half was down and we showed much better confidence in the second half," said Ram head coach Michelle Mohn. "These were our first two goals scored in league play. We hadn't practiced against penalty kicks."