A year ago the Juanita girls soccer team had huge season under their new head coach, making the playoffs, but this season they’ve surpassed even that. For the first time since the 1980s the team made the state playoffs last week, beating Nathan Hale in overtime to secure a spot.
“It’s been another dream season,” said head coach of the Rebels, John Mach prior to making state. “We’ve been even more successful. We’ve doubled the number of wins and the number of goals scored.”
Mach said last season, his first year with the team, the goal was to make the playoffs. This year’s goal was to make the state tournament. That goal was accomplished thanks to a 2-1 overtime win over Nathan Hale in a cross over game on Saturday, Nov. 6. After a Kaila Bass goal, scored off a cross from Karissa Radke, followed later in the game by a game tying goal from Nathan Hale, the game went into a golden goal situation. Knowing a state berth was on the line, the Rebels pulled through thanks to a game winning goal by senior Ashland Bernard in overtime.
“With the talent we had coming back and the talent coming in we knew we had it,” said the coach.
The team ended the regular season in the No. 2 spot in the league and moved into the KingCo tournament searching for a second straight title. The crown came after a heart stopping win over Bellevue which was decided by penalty kicks.
“They handled it like professionals,” said Mach “Obviously we want to win another way, but it’s a game they’ll never forget.”
The game against Bellevue ended regulation tied 0-0 and the teams battled in overtime before going to penalties to decide the winner. Juanita goalie Niki Fausset saved two shots from Bellevue, and with goals from Juanita, the Rebels won the game.
“Niki has been so amazing in goal,” Mach said. Fausset led the league in shutouts this season.
Getting this far, Mach said, has simply been a product of the girls believing in themselves.
“The biggest factor for their success has been the girls believe in the new system and the girls fighting and playing for each other. When they’ve done that, it pays dividends.”
The Rebels were also the 2009 KingCo tournament champions and were named the KingCo 3A team of the year in 2009 and 2010. This season Mach was named the KingCo coach of the year, while Tori Lee was the 2010 KingCo league MVP. Faussett was also named the goalie of the league for KingCo.
Moving forward Mach said they won’t be changing much, but to continue to focus on what’s worked.
The team played their first state game against Camas, in Camas on Thursday evening, after Reporter deadline. A win over the Papermakers would pushed the Rebels into the quarterfinals, facing the winner of the Bonney Lake/Liberty match up. For updates and more information visit www.kirklandreporter.com.
