Last year, in their first-round playoff game, the WJ girls’ soccer team was handed a crushing 7-6 defeat via penalty kicks at the hands of Churchill. Heading into the playoffs this year, the Cats were looking to erase the bad taste of a first-round exit.
The B-CC Barons stood in WJ’s way, coming to the barn seeking a victorious first-round win of their own. But the Wildcats wouldn’t let them, winning an eventful 3-2 game in shootouts.
The game started out well for WJ, as senior defenseman Ella Hoban booted the ball from 40 yards out, taking a bounce off the turf and going over B-CC senior goalie Ivy McConarty’s head en route to the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. The second half started strong as well for WJ, as senior Maya Panicker scored on a header off of a free kick by Hoban, making it a 2-0 game with 32 minutes to go.
The Barons weren’t finished yet, however, and they scored a goal off of a turnover in WJ’s defensive zone, pulling within one point of tying the game. With twenty seconds left in regulation, the Barons received a gift, as a WJ penalty committed inside the box forced a penalty kick for B-CC. The Barons quickly capitalized on their opportunity, tying the game at 2-2 and sending the game to OT.
Following the Wildcats blowing a 2-goal lead, momentum was heavily against them as the Barons’ bench was filled with energy in stark contrast to the Wildcats’ bench filled with disbelief. Despite WJ being dumbfounded at the comeback, they knew they had to lock in to pull away with a win.
“We all came out this season remembering our loss, we didn’t want it to end like last year. So we wanted to end differently and make it past the first round. Our team is so close, we wanted it for each other, so we came out with confidence,” Hoban said.
In a one-goal contest between two rival schools, the game was starting to get very physical, with lots of pushing and shoving on both sides. Overtime, though eventful, saw neither team scoring the game-deciding goal, sending the game to penalty kicks. Not only were the Cats trying to redeem themselves from last year’s game against Churchill, but WJ was also 0-4 in playoff games that went to PKs over the last few seasons.
If a regular season game isn’t decided after overtime, the game ends in a tie with penalty kicks being a non-factor. With playoff games being win-or-go-home, PKs are added, causing teams to be prepared leading up to the postseason in the case of a game coming down to just five shots per team.
“There’s two things that make a huge difference at this point in the season: calmness and preparation. We prepared for this, we always prepare as we get closer to the playoffs for PKs,” head coach Neil Gottlieb said. “I had the order set, they all had it in their head, so sometimes players get really nervous before PKs, but they all knew that this was their job, and everything was set.”
WJ’s preparation paid off. The Cats scored four out of their five shots, with sophomore goalie Chloe Russ saving two of B-CC’s shots and scoring the fifth and final goal, sealing the roller-coaster game for WJ.
“We had confidence in our teammates, and Chloe is one hell of a goalie. I’ve never seen a goalie like that before,” senior Kendall Alexander said. “She’s amazing, and we had trust in our teammates, every single one that stepped up. It means everything to us, we worked so hard, we had a hard season last year and we wanted to get our revenge this year, and we’re starting out strong in the playoffs.”
With the 3-2 win vs B-CC, the Wildcats advance to the second round, in a region semifinal game, to take on the Quince Orchard Cougars on Saturday. QO came into the playoffs with a 10-1 record and a first-round bye, making this game no easy win for the Cats. QO beat WJ in their one meeting this season with a 3-0 shutout.
“They’re a great opponent, they are one of the best in the state. They’re an exceptionally well-coached, exceptionally well-trained team. So we’re going to watch film and prepare the best we can, and even the best preparation is very hard against this team. So we need to be 100% across the roster, everyone giving everything,” Gottlieb said.
Despite the challenge that QO poses, the Cats are confident that they can come out with the win, which would send them to the regional finals.
“We’ve got to have confidence, we can’t play scared, we have to play like we’re going to win. And we are going to win, we have to play with confidence like we are,” Alexander said.
