TUMWATER — Tenino’s U16 and U19 girls soccer teams impressed in Tumwater over the weekend at the annual Kick in the Grass Tournament, as both teams went unbeaten to reach the tournament title games before falling there on Sunday to finish second.
Both teams lost to OP Flash, a team composed of players from Sequim, Port Angeles, and Port Townsend.
The U16 team lost 1-0 after a second-half free kick from well outside of the box hit the back of the net, and the U19 team lost in a penalty shootout after neither team scored in the 60 minutes of regulation and 10 minutes of extra time.
Tenino had its chances throughout the U19 title game, including a first-half penalty kick, but couldn’t convert any of them.
“There were certain things that we wanted to do on a regular basis — playing the way we face, being dominant out of the air, having attitudes towards 50/50 challenges — we were so good all tournament,” Tenino coach Trevor Fetbrandt said. “We faced a team that was really, really good. They forced the issue on some of those things to get us to play outside of those principles, and that ultimately showed some cracks.”
The Beavers were able to shut down OP Flash just as well on the other end, though, and for the second time of the day, they didn’t allow a goal. The two teams had met just hours before in the final pool play game, a 2-0 Tenino win.
In penalties, the Beavers converted their first four chances from the spot, but they couldn’t put in the winner, missing their final three to fall in PKs 5-4.
Despite the final outcome, Fetbrandt was pleased with the level of play his group maintained against a team with some collegiate players.
“Playing this competitive game with that kind of pressure is just gonna make us that much better,” Fetbrandt said. “We feel like if we play our game and do what we can do, we’re capable of beating anybody.”
He felt the same way about the U16 team, which was missing a few players due to prior commitments in the final. As a result, the Beavers only had two substitutes for the entire game.
“Still, they competed their tails off and made no excuses for themselves,” Fetbrandt said.
Across the tournament, Charlie Wheeler led the U16 team with three goals and an assist, Kylie Gonia scored a goal and added two assists, and JayLynn Franklin also hit the back of the net. In net, Ellie Plang tallied 11 saves.
In U19 play, Callie Mickelson scored seven goals and an assist, Kyla Watson added three goals and two assists, and Kailyn Black scored twice. Charley Jones added a pair of assists and a goal, Harley Frahman added a goal and an assist, and Maria Summers collected two assists of her own. Gracie Sweet made five saves in net, and McKenna Bocook made two in her appearance in net.
The Kick in the Grass Tournament is the first of two straight weekend tournaments for the Beavers, who will be hosting the Battle on the Blacktop Tournament next weekend at Beaver Stadium.
Every summer practice and game is leading to this fall, when the Beavers will look to make it back to state for the second consecutive year.
“The ultimate goal is performing at the right time during the fall season,” Fetbrandt said. “We want to make sure we’re sharp and ready to go and get as much growth and progression leading into that. These summer tournaments are so critical because you’re getting key touches as well as key conditioning … Putting in all that work pays dividends, and it’s proven it the last three years for us.”
Leading the way both this summer and into the fall is a senior class led by Mickelson, Summers, and Tate Carboneau, three first-team all-league players from last year, and Watson, who earned a second-team nod.
“We have a nucleus of six or seven seniors that are going to be the heart of the team,” Fetbrandt said. “We go as they go, and I’m excited to let them lead the group and show the entire state what we can do.
“I think we’re starting to do some things as a soccer team that is going to look very high-level,” Fetbrandt continued. “The concepts and style of soccer that we play is gonna look noticeably different. It’s a complement to all the extra work that our girls are putting in. I’m really excited to see it translate to the field.”
