Eagles reign supreme in overtime shootout on the soccer field

Issaquah earns a dramatic victory in the Wes-King 4A district championship game.

By Shaun Scott • November 1, 2018 11:16 pm
Issaquah Eagles girls soccer players make a beeline for Riley Larsen, who is standing with her arms outstretched, after she hit the game clinching penalty kick in the overtime shootout on Nov. 1 at Gary Moore Stadium in Issaquah. Photo courtesy of Don Borin/Stop Action Photography
Issaquah Eagles girls soccer players make a beeline for Riley Larsen, who is standing with her arms outstretched, after she hit the game clinching penalty kick in the overtime shootout on Nov. 1 at Gary Moore Stadium in Issaquah. Photo courtesy of Don Borin/Stop Action Photography

It was fitting the emotional leader of the Issaquah Eagles girls soccer team connected on the game-winning goal during an overtime shootout in the Wes-King 4A girls district soccer tournament championship game.

After 80 minutes of regulation and two five-minute overtime sessions, the outcome of the game came down to a penalty kick shootout. Issaquah outscored Redmond 4-2 in the shootout, earning a 1-0 victory in the Wes-King 4A girls district title game on Nov. 1 at Gary Moore Stadium in Issaquah.

Issaquah junior Riley Larsen scored the fourth goal of the shootout for her team, clinching the victory.

“I didn’t get much time on the field (during the game) but that doesn’t matter. When you got to step up, you got to step up. I just thought I had to bury that in the back of the net. It happened,” Larsen explained.

Issaquah players scoring goals in the penalty kick shootout were Jaden Humbyrd, Chloe Huling, Sarah Kim and Larsen. Redmond players Taylor Pisan and Izzy Bach-Lefler scored a goal apiece in the shootout.

Eagles head coach Kyle Tatro was thrilled to see Larsen hit the game winner. Larsen is one of the most passionate players on the Eagles roster.

“It was amazing. She cares so much about this program and these girls. It was really awesome and was a really special moment for her. I’m really happy for her,” Tatro said of Larsen.

Redmond head coach Stacy Masters believes her team will rebound from the loss to Issaquah at the Class 4A state tournament.

“Our team is really confident right now. I think we just showed everyone that we can play all the way to the end of every game. We don’t care who the opponent is,” Masters said. “Just two days ago, we took Jackson who was the No. 1 seed from their division into PKs (penalty kicks) and we beat them. Now we’ve taken the reigning state champions (Issaquah) all the way to the end.”

The Eagles outshot the Mustangs 7-2 in 80 minutes of regulation but couldn’t connect on a goal, which resulted in overtime.

“You take the wins however you can take them,” Tatro said with a smile following the game. “We have a lot of confidence going forward. We know we can handle any adversity. We’re excited to go to state (tournament).”