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Most teams would wilt after Javone McClelland took a perfectly placed Lexi Fesenbek pass and pounded it into the back of the net a mere three minutes into the contest.
Gig Harbor wasn’t rattled by the quick deficit, however.
Despite being light on shot attempts, the Tides proved big on results as visiting Gig Harbor edged Olympia, 3-2, in Narrows League 4A girls soccer Tuesday at Ingersoll Stadium.
It was the first league loss for Olympia, which fell to 5-1-3 in Narrows League play and 6-2-3 overall. The Bears had been the last remaining unbeaten team in league play.
Mo Megson scored two goals for the Tides (8-2-0 overall, 7-2-0 league), and Julia Sahlin Marissa Shields kicked in the game-winner in the 29th minute, helping Gig Harbor to its fifth consecutive victory.
“They scored on three of the first four shots they attempted,” said Olympia coach Tessa Effland. “That’s a lack of communication between our keeper and the defense. We can’t do that against a good team.”
Fesenbek, who scored two goals against the Tides in Olympia’s 2-0 win over Gig Harbor on Sept. 15, notched her league-leading 17th goal on a penalty kick at the 27th minute to tie the game at 2.
It was the seventh straight home game for the Bears, who went 4-1-2 during the homestand.
Olympia plays its final five regular season games on the road, beginning Thursday against South Kitsap.
“We’re still in the battle for the league’s top spot,” Effland said. “It’s a tough loss, but I don’t believe we played bad. Every mistake we made tonight is fixable.”
The Bears tied the Wolves, 1-1, on Sept. 20.
“We’ve haven’t lost on the road yet this season,” Fesenbek said. “Hopefully we can continue to play the way we have away from home.”
Minutes into the match, Fesenbek darted past a Gig Harbor defender before directing a centering pass in front of the goal. Fellow senior McClelland took the pass and booted it into the back of the net.
Gig Harbor notched the equalizer when Megson scored her first goal at the eighth minute.
Megson basically had an open net to shoot at after a confusing encounter in front of the Olympia net when goalkeeper Ashley Stearman-Joanis failed to secure the ball before it drifted toward a sprinting Megson.
Fesenbek connected on a penalty kick in the 27th minute.
The Tides received Megson’s second goal a minute later and Sahlin’s game-winner a minute after that.
