The Issaquah Eagles girls soccer team’s undefeated season came to screeching halt against their most formidable rival.

In a contest featuring the Class 4A KingCo regular season championship on the line, the Skyline Spartans registered an improbable comeback 2-1 overtime win against the Eagles on Oct. 22 at Skyline High School in Sammamish. Skyline forward Aleesandra Zonta scored the game-winning goal in the 87th minute, lifting the Spartans to a one-goal victory. Spartans’ midfielder Emma Rohleder had the assist on Zonta’s goal. The Spartans finished the regular season with an overall record of 9-2-3 while Issaquah finished with a 11-1-2 record.

“It feels great. To finally score in the second half of overtime was great. There is just a lot of emotions right now,” Zonta said.

Skyline head coach Don Braman was jubilant following the comeback triumph in front of the hometown fans on senior night.

“At the end of the day I’m just swept away at the end of the game because it was just another super intense game between Skyline and Issaquah,” Braman said. “It is just everything that you would ever want out of a high school soccer contest and is everything that is great about high school sports. I thought Issaquah really dominated play in the first half. That was to be expected, but our team is resilient, have strong hearts and found a way.”

Issaquah got on the board first when Mariah Vanhalm scored in the 37th minute, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Vanhalm’s header goal came off a pass from teammate Kaylene Pang’s free kick from close to 40 yards away. Issaquah clung to its one goal lead until disaster struck with just three minutes to go in regulation. Skyline’s Rohleder carried the ball down the field in a one-on-one goal scoring opportunity against Issaquah goalie Anna Miller. The two players collided on the play and the referee gave Miller a red card, resulting in an ejection for the Eagles’ keeper and a penalty kick for the Spartans. Cameron Tingey calmly connected on the penalty kick, tying the game at 1-1 with three minutes left in the game. Issaquah head coach Tom Bunnell vehemently disagreed with the referee’s call on the play.

“I completely disagree with the ref’s call on the penalty. I’m shocked at that. She (Miller) was going for the 50/50 ball,” Bunnell said. “I just felt like it was the wrong call in an intense moment.”

The Spartans and Eagles will face off in a winner-to-state, KingCo Championship game on Nov. 2 at Skyline High School in Sammamish.

The Eagles will play without their No. 1 goalie Miller due to the ejection. If a player gets a red card, they are automatically suspended for their next game. Braman agreed with the referee’s decision on the play, but at the same time felt sympathy for the Eagles.

“In my mind, there was no question and by the rule book a card can be given. I just think it is really hard on a senior (Miller) who has been a great contributor to their program to miss the (KingCo) championship game,” Braman said. “Fortunately for them (Issaquah) they’ve got a No. 2 (Nerea Arrazola) who is a phenomenal goal-keeper as well.”