Defending Champions

With the 2020 Women’s Soccer season being cut short, Highline is still the reigning champion, having defeated Peninsula College 1-0 in double overtime on Nov. 17, 2020.

 Hannah Jenkins, the heart and soul of the Highline defense and MVP of the championship game and the tournament, to an NWAC reporter about the Highline defense: “We’re filthy, we’re nasty, and we don’t go down without a fight.”

The winning goal was scored in the waning moments of the second overtime when Hannah Anderson, the team’s leading scorer and assist leader, received the ball found substitute forward and backup goalkeeper Sophia Leer in space in front of the Peninsula goal. Anderson placed the ball at the feet of Leer for Highline’s last, best scoring opportunity.  And Leer made the most of it.  She blasted a kick from 14 yards in the center of the penalty box, leaving no chance for Peninsula goalkeeper Andrea Kenagy, who had forced the match into a second overtime with a sensational first-overtime save off a breakaway opportunity by Highline forward Rayna Santiago. 

In the final NWAC Coaches Women’s Soccer poll to end the regular season, Highline was ranked #3 behind #2 Walla Walla and #1 Peninsula.  Of the three teams, Highline had given up a league best six goals, closely followed by Peninsula allowing only seven.  With these two teams meeting for the title on a cool, gray, misty day it was only appropriate that defense would dominate through regulation time and almost two overtimes until the backup goalkeeper for Highline, assisted by Highline’s leading scorer, found herself with a clear shot.  She didn’t miss and the Thunderbirds could celebrate a well-deserved win based on defense, opportune offense, and most of all, grit.

Articles about the championship match:

NWAC Conference article “Highline defeats Peninsula 1-0 in double overtime to claim third school title.”
Article from the Peninsula Daily News “Peninsula Falls in Final Seconds.”