by MATTHEW NASH

Sequim Gazette

At some point, the odds must roll in the Lady Wolves’ favor.

The Sequim girls soccer team (0-9 in the Olympic League, 2-10-1 overall) lost three games last week with two coming in overtime shootouts. The Wolves lost 1-0 hosting Kingston on Oct. 13, and 2-1 in Port Angeles on Oct. 15, both in shootouts before coming home on Saturday to host North Mason in a 3-0 loss.

On the season, the girls have played five overtimes with four shootouts and haven’t hold a five-game losing streak.

“Unfortunately, we haven’t been on the winning end of those (shootouts),” Sequim coach Brittany Murdach said. “It’s been tough because those games are pretty intense and to put your whole heart into it.

To have that many consecutive losses is hard on the girls. But they’ve been really resilient and they’re coming back.”

Sequim’s first shootout against the Buccaneers (3-6, 5-8) went 5-4 in penalty kicks.

“It was a good match,” Murdach said. “(Goalie) Claire Henninger had a hand on quite a few of the PKs on Tuesday.”

In Port Angeles, the Wolves put themselves in a position early to win.

Murdach said from a free kick, Nathalie Torres kicked the ball into the goalie’s arms (Madelyn Wenzel) and out leading to Sarah Penrose to kick it in the 32nd minute.

The Roughriders (4-5, 8-5) responded three minutes later though before halftime to score at 35 minutes.

Once the two overtime periods ended, Port Angeles connected on four kicks and Sequim three from Adare McMinn, Henninger and Chloie Sparks.

Murdach said Henninger had a hand on one of the kicks but it rolled into the goal.

“It’s difficult for a keeper in the league to get a hand on the ball unless it’s hit right to them,” she said.

“Claire has been doing spectacular back there. When they are striking from that close in, sometimes a hand isn’t enough.”

Defender Claire Payne and Midfielder Sara Penrose were named Sequim’s players of the game, Murdach said.

“I don’t think (Payne) got beat once (on defense,),” she said. “(Penrose) ran until she couldn’t run anymore too.”

On Saturday, Raven Wolfe scored two first half goals to put the Bulldogs up 2-0 in the first half. Madison Kadoun put the Bulldogs up 3-0 at 48 minutes in with another goal.

Sequim had three shots on goal in the game and Henninger had eight saves with seven in the first half.

Murdach said the Wolves only made three errors on defense but they paid for them.

However, she found the girls connected more passes than earlier in the week.

“It’s been a long week for the girls,” Murdach said. “We had some good performances and some girls giving 100 percent.”

Looking ahead, the Wolves hosted North Kitsap’s JV squad on Tuesday, Oct. 20, and then they host Bremerton (3-6) on Oct. 26 and finish the season on Oct. 29, hosting Olympic.

“We’re going to just keep fighting till the very end,” Murdach said. “We have definitely made some improvements throughout the year. We’re a really young team and the girls are gaining confidence.

We’re going to power through the to the last game.”