Varsity - Bellevue vs Roosevelt 11-22-24

#2 Bellevue 1-2 OT #3 Roosevelt
57th min Anna (Morgan)
76th min 1-1 Roosevelt goal
83rd min 1-2 Roosevelt golden goal

That stings.

In a game that would've been a worthy final, we leave Sparks Stadium with tears instead of high fives and hugs. Our battle between the last two State champions was exactly what we expected: tight and well-matched. We play similar formations. We both value possession, quick technical ball movement, and organized, team-oriented defense. There were no obvious weaknesses to exploit on either side with excellent athletes in every role all over the field. And therefore, for long periods of the game, especially in the first half, we battled to a midfield stalemate. Yes, we created more chances, but not overwhelmingly so. But we also hadn't allowed a single dangerous chance against us for the opening 40 minutes, and at no point did we feel like we were getting exposed. Halftime stats were 4 shots/2 corners for Bellevue, to 1 shot/0 corners for Roosevelt. 

In the second half, with a steady breeze at our back, we began to pin Roosevelt in their own half and create more chances. Our break-through came in the 57th minute, as recent substitute Morgan beat her defender on the right side and sent a perfectly driven cross to the far post where Anna smashed a header into the back of the net. Glorius goal. And a wonderful example of players changing a game when given the opportunity. Morgan and Anna had both entered the game 3 minutes before and thanks to their combination, we had the lead 1-0. Two seniors making their mark. 

We expected a flurry of Roosevelt attacks after they conceded, but our team defense remained stout. If anything, it seemed like we would confidently and competently see the game through with a one-goal winning margin. But the soccer gods had other ideas...and with four minutes left in the game, from an innocuous-looking looped entry pass, the Roosevelt striker got good body position, dropped the ball back to her winger and the resulting one-touch shot snuck into the upper corner at the near post. It was a nice goal, but very unlikely. It was Roosevelt's 2nd shot in the entire game. And we were tied at full-time. 1-1.  

If the tying goal in the dying minutes of regular was cruel, the golden goal that ended the game was something from the Marquis de Sade, as a wicked deflection from a Roosevelt shot (their 3rd in the game) found the back of the net after only three minutes of overtime. Game over. Shock defeat. 

Roosevelt is a worthy finalist. The defending champs never gave up even when they were a goal down with just minutes left in the game. They are a talented team. But this loss stings.  
We had it. We earned it. We played well. We created more chances, and we were amazing defensively. And yet, in just a handful of combined minutes, it was gone. Joy turned to ashes in our mouths.  Sadness.

Among countless other things, High School sports are great because it gives us a safe and engaging way to experience the intense emotions we need to manage later in life: Joy. victory. effort, merit, teamwork, but just as valuable are the moments, especially in soccer, when you need to manage the intensity of loss, defeat, sadness, and just a whiff of injustice. Just like in real life.

But thankfully, the stakes on the soccer field feel bigger than they actually are. We lost. And that stings. But tomorrow we'll wake up early and have an opportunity to play one more high school soccer game at Sparks Stadium with our friends. One more chance to get to feel the other side of the scoreboard that ends with smiles, happiness, and shared accomplishment.  

It stings today, but we'll do our best to slather ourselves in aloe vera and earn a win in the consolation final for 3rd place. The underlying burn of today won't go away, but it might make the sting feel better tomorrow.  

See you in Puyallup in the morning, 10am kick-off.