SHORELINE — The postgame words by coach Tina Ellertson to an emotional King’s Way Christian girls soccer team were brief, yet impactful.
Be bummed, she said, but also be proud.
No team in program history reached this stage like the 2018 Knights did by playing in Saturday’s Class 1A state championship match at Shoreline Stadium.
But in a reverse script of Friday’s semifinal, the Knights lost a game that same way after 80 minutes of regulation and two golden-goal five-minute overtimes.
The shootout featured 10 kickers with three successful makes combined with saves by both keepers and misses by both teams. That was enough for La Salle to top the Knights 2-1 (2-1 PKs) to capture its second title in program history and first since 2009.
Still its best finish in program history, the Knights took home their first state trophy.
“I’m so happy we got to come here,” said senior MacKenzie Ellertson, the Washington State signee who drew multiple defenders on her touches Saturday. “Every single one of us I know worked our butts off. It comes down to PKs sometimes. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.”
Saturday, the matchup might’ve been coined David vs. Goliath given the path of state history for both teams. All of King’s Way’s four state appearances came in the past five years, while La Salle out of the Yakima Valley has a 15-year state playoff streak including a state title game appearance two years ago.
La Salle’s rich state history didn’t impact the Knights. After all, their path to a 17-2-2 record came with wins over traditional 1A soccer powers Seattle Academy and King’s before downing Klahowya Friday.
Put King’s Way on the map now.
Of the 15-players roster, nine are seniors. The majority of them played five years of soccer at King’s Way since Ellertson brought on a number of eighth graders her first year in 2014.
A legacy that’s unmatched is now passed down to the underclassmen for what they hope is a building block for the future.
“We left a family title on the whole team,” said senior Amber Kolb. “The underclassmen understand and respect we are a family. No matter what in years to come, they’re still going to be a family and treat future underclassmen as part of the family. … I’m excited. I’m think they’re going to do big things.”
Kate Roseburrough broke the game’s scoreless tie in the 25th minute on a shot 20 yards out center of the goal. The Knights held the lead until the 63rd minute when a rebound shot by Kamryn Fiscus, her 117th career goal, notted the game at 1-1.
Then came a flurry of chances late. In the final three minutes of regulation plus overtimes, La Salle had two corner kicks and came within inches of the goal box only to be cleared by King’s Way. That same margin came close again in double overtime when Knights goalkeeper Hannah Moats stopped Lillian Sigler’s close-range attempt in the box not once, but twice as a diving Moats saved the ball inches from the goal.
Moats continued her tournament tear with 11 saves Saturday. She stopped one in the shootout, but King’s Way missed two of its own wide of the goal. King’s Way kept its same order of kickers as it did Friday, less than 24 hours after topping Klahowya 4-3 in PKs for the 2-1 semifinal win.
Regardless, though, they left 100 percent on the field at Shoreline Stadium just as it has all season.
And a reason to be proud in Ellertson’s words.
“We give that for each other,” Kolb said. “It really represents us and what’s what we stand for.”
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CLASS 1A STATE TITLE GAME
At Shoreline Stadium
La Salle 2, King’s Way Christian 1 (2-1 PKs)
King’s Way goal — Kate Rosenburrough
Goalkeeper saves — Hannah Moats 11
