It didn’t take long for the Issaquah Eagles girls soccer team to get back on track on the pitch.
Issaquah, which suffered its first defeat of the season to the Mercer Island Islanders in a nonleague contest on Oct. 9, got back in the win column courtesy of a 3-1 win against the rival Eastlake Wolves in a 4A KingCo soccer contest on Oct. 11 at Gary Moore Stadium in Issaquah. The Eagles improved their overall record to 8-1-1 with the win while Eastlake dropped to 5-5-2 overall. Issaquah players Lea Tucker (38th minute), Sarah Kim (52nd minute) and Sophia Cuschieri (71st minute) each recorded a goal in the victory. Eastlake’s freshman Morgan Young scored her squad’s lone goal in the 40th minute.
Kim, who scored the go-ahead goal for the Eagles, credited teammate Kate Wilkinson for putting her in a perfect position to find the back of the net.
“I was running wide (near the right sideline). Kate Wilkinson put in a through ball over the top. I was just able to run onto it and then slip it past the keeper,” Kim said of the goal that gave the Eagles the lead for good.
Issaquah head coach Kyle Tatro was thrilled his squad rebounded after suffering its first loss of the season just two days prior to Mercer Island.
“A loss is just what you need almost. There was a lot of pride on the line tonight and that can boost a team up for a game like this. It was good to come out here and get a nice victory. Eastlake is so good. It was a battle and it (the outcome) really could had gone either way. Either team could had come out on top. It is always pretty sweet when you’re the team that does,” Tatro explained.
Eastlake head coach Marc Wilson believed the game was much closer than the final 3-1 tally appeared on the scoreboard.
“The girls proved tonight that they can compete with any team in this conference. We’re battle tested. This loss tonight isn’t indicative of how close the game really was. I would say we controlled a large portion of that first half,” Wilson said. “We had just a couple of defensive miscues. You have to give Issaquah credit. They make you pay for your mistakes. That is what they do.”
Wilson said his team was ready for the Eagles and amped before they took the field of play.
“I am not disappointed in them, I am disappointed for them because I know how badly they wanted to beat Issaquah,” Wilson said of his team. “I think the great thing is we have a lot of soccer left. We have four more regular season games and the district tournament.”
Issaquah Eagles sophomore Michelle Kane celebrates just seconds after the final whistle was sounded following Issaquah’s 3-1 win against the Eastlake Wolves on Oct. 11 at Gary Moore Stadium in Issaquah. Photo courtesy of Don Borin/Stop Action Photography
Issaquah Eagles junior midfielder Jenna Wisler, center, carries the ball up the field against the Eastlake Wolves in a matchup between rivals on Oct. 11. Photo courtesy of Don Borin/Stop Action Photography
