Article courtesy of Gerardo Bolong

PUYALLUP - It took more than 90 minutes of action, but the NPSL 4A John F. Kennedy Catholic girls soccer team used its high energy battle techniques to batter down the walls in gaining a penalty kick shoot out 2-1 victory against SPSL 4A Olympia Thurs., Nov. 3, at Carl Sparks Stadium, earning a 2016 first round Washington state high school first round match.

The Lady Lancers moved on to a Nov. 5 West Central III/Southwest IV showdown versus Sumner for a No. 6 or No. 8 seeding into state.

In the shoot out, Olympia received the first shot. Rosie Augsburger attempted to shoot to her right side of the net, but Lancer keeper Jaclyn Seifert dove to her left for the stop. Lancer Natalie Gagne then stepped up to deliver a lightning-like shot right into the middle of the goal.

After Bella Hood evened the score for Olympia, Bailey Hall scored for Kennedy. On Killman's turn for the Bears, Seifert smothered the ball on the shooter's attempt to go right side.

For the Lancers, Julianna Trejo-Lamphere notched a left corner goal.

With Olympia in dire straits, Lancer Seifert smothered one more Bear shot, touching off a joyous on the field Kennedy Catholic celebration that eventually filtered over to the front of its fans in the stands.
"This moment was the coolest in my life," exulted junior keeper Seifert. "I'm just living for the moment. I wouldn't be here if my teammates didn't push. This was built by friendship and faith, as well."

When the two lines clashed to open regulation play, the battle immediately became a Lancer charge into Bear territory, keeping Oly pinned back for the better part of five minutes with Bailey Hall and Teryn Mendez using their quickness on the front line until the Bears surged briefly.

Kennedy Catholic then resumed its high powered attack based on quickness and spreading the field with crisp passing that produced systematic cross passes. With the Lancers seemingly ready to break through at any moment, due to continual field position authority, the Bears seized upon a quick strike attack.

In the 15th minute of play senior midfielder/forward Jenna Killman broke clear through the middle to accept a crossing pass from teammate Bella Hood. At this point, Killman outmaneuvered a Kennedy defender and cleared to the right side. The Olympia athlete faked out the goalkeeper and directed home a shot from the right side for a 15-yard goal to put the Bears ahead, 1-0.

Olympia picked up some steam to endanger the Lancer goal several times before escaping a determined Kennedy Catholic onslaught just before halftime.

Undaunted, the Lancers stormed out in the second half to mount withering against their foes.

By the 48th minute, KC's pressure tactics finally yielded the fruits of its labors.

Midfielder Terry Mendez cleared herself on the right side to fire home the equalizing goal in the 48th minute.

In a contrasting duel of constant Lancer pressure versus dangerous Bear quick strikes, both sides eluded being scored upon despite several near goals. Regulation ended with Kennedy Catholic storming the Olympia stronghold in an attempt to avoid overtime.

Two five-minute overtime panels failed to create a resolution, forcing the often dreaded penalty kicks.

"We just outworked them," said Lancer head coach Michelle Beattie. "It was a fabulous goal by Teryn. We also pulled back forward Hall into the back line. She did everything she could for us. We are a high intensity team."