SEATTLE, Wash. — There are special teams that are made up of special players, who in turn create special moments. With time expiring in what was one of the most exciting matchups of the season last night, West Seattle’s Kolo Suliafu delivered the winning goal to secure a 2-1 win over #15-ranked FC Olympia. The visitors were dealt just their second loss of the season last night by the Rhodies, as the hosts bounced back from their previous loss against Bigfoot FC in dramatic fashion.
“I’m just so happy for the players,” shared head coach Lyndsey Patterson, who could be heard screaming in celebration following Suliafu’s winning goal. “I’m just so proud that they got, what I believe, they deserved.” When asked about the team’s mentality coming into last night’s matchup against one of the W League’s more dangerous lineups, Patterson added that they were more focused on themselves than their opposition. “It was honestly more about us and our preparation, and what we wanted to do on the field. [We focused on] our shape, our personnel, how we wanted to play, and how we wanted to compete and score goals, and I think we did as best as we could against a great team in FC Olympia.”
The Rhodies didn’t shy away from their nationally-ranked opponents for any moment last night, as they looked to enact their revenge after having fallen 2-1 in the reverse fixture earlier this year.
Neither team was able to break the deadlock throughout the opening minutes of the contest, until a clearance from Iris Mattern led to a scramble on Olympia’s backline, which allowed an opening on goal for Peyton Chick in the 16th minute. The forward fired her shot from nearly 20 yards out, rattling the back of the net for her first goal of the year.
The hosts, led by Suliafu on both sides of the ball, were comfortably in control of the contest heading into the halftime interval. The Artesians on the other hand, who struggled to really create anything going forward up to that point, were left looking for an answer heading into the second half.
The second half of Wednesday night’s contest also marked the return of goalkeeper Madi Munguia, who made her first appearance for the Rhodies after having sustained a nasty injury when the hosts first matched up against Olympia earlier in the year.
West Seattle continued to look dangerous going forward as they looked to extend their lead, with Kalea Eichenberger nearly doing so in the 52nd minute. The forward got on the end of a looping ball played forward by Hailey Still before rounding the goalkeeper and putting her shot just over the crossbar, coming just inches away from scoring her fifth of the year.
The visitors best chance of the second half came just four minutes later, when Piper Davidson was picked out in space near the back post and placed her header just over the crossbar. Olympia continued to grow into the contest and test Muguia in goal, eventually doing enough to find the equalizer in the 82nd minute. Noel Blain, who got on the end of a cross from Davidson, powered her headed effort into the turf and past Muguia, but the hosts looked determined to reclaim their advantage.
Still, who had been dangerous going forward for the Rhodies all night, was brought down following a powerful run up the left side of the pitch, setting up a freekick opportunity in the final minutes of the game. Gracie Gouran’s freekick found the head of Still, whose attempt was excellently saved by Faith Nguyen, setting up a tap-in for Suliafu, who scored the deciding goal in the 90th minute.
As West Seattle’s magical inaugural season comes to a close, fans have the chance to catch the Rhodies in action one last time. The Rhodies will host Bigfoot FC in their regular season finale this Saturday, June 28th at 2:00 pm. Tickets are still available for purchase online, but if fans aren’t able to attend in person, they can catch the livestream on SportsEngine Play.
