By MICHAEL DASHIELL

Sequim Gazette

Finally.

After seasons of near misses and moral victories, Sequim’s girls soccer squad came away with an Olympic League victory against North Mason Thursday night.

With 10 minutes remaining in a tight-knit contest, sophomore Vianey Cadenas blasted a shot from 35 yards out for a score and a 1-0 Sequim victory.

It’s the Wolves’ first league win since 2008.

Between that game and last week’s breakthrough, Sequim has battled through 27 league defeats and a tie. The Wolves have a 3-11 mark in non-league games in that span, including wins against Chimacum (twice) and Forks.

“This is so deserved,” Sequim coach Molly McAleer said.

“They haven’t had the feeling of prevailing. Now we have to switch the mentality of lowering the score against us to defending a winning streak. I’m thrilled for them.”

The Bulldogs topped Sequim 2-0 last season; in 2009, the teams played to a 3-3 stalemate.

On Thursday, Sequim (1-1-0 in league, 2-5-0 overall) pestered the North Mason defense with a number of runs deep into Bulldog territory, but two shots sailed high above the crossbar.

That was, until Cadenas’ shot.

“Vienay has had so many close scoring opportunities,” McAleer said. “A picture-perfect goal — no one deserved it more than Vienay.”

Maeve Harris, along with Kristen Phifer and Cadenas, controlled much of the play in North Mason territory in the second half. With time dwindling down, Harris brought the ball to the center of the midfield, then slipped a pass back to Cadenas, who rocketed a shot that looped over the Bulldog keeper for the game-winner.

“From how we played North Mason last year, this year we stepped up our game,” Phifer said.

“It’s going to be harder and harder for other teams (we play),” she said. “We’re going to bring it.”

The Wolves play at Kingston on Oct. 6 and host North Kitsap on Oct. 11.

Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.