Oh so close

It took two games, three overtimes, and nine goals for the Red Wing and Waseca girls soccer teams to find out which them was better. 

The Bluejays’ season came to an end Tuesday night, 3-2 in the second overtime, at home against the fifth-seeded Wingers. 

“Overall it was a fantastic season,” Bluejays coach Kyle Tomlinson said. “It’s really unbelievable given such a small squad we have. I’m incredibly proud of how these girls played tonight. With wind like we had tonight, it's unpredictable. Sometimes, like tonight, you just have to take shots and see what happens. We didn’t do enough of that tonight.” 

Tomlinson shared that at points throughout the season, the girls played three games a week, with some players playing halves on both varsity and junior varsity. There were games where the Jays dressed 11 players for 11 positions. 

In the battle of the birds, the Bluejays scored first on senior to senior connection with a goal  from Thyme Lang, assisted by Maia Bartelt. 

A goal from the Wingers with 2:32 left made it 1-1 at the break.

Seven minutes into the second half, the Jays scored their final goal on a deep breakaway pass to Gabriela Lopez. 

A penalty set up a free kick and a tying goal from Lillie Sonju three minutes later. 

Bluejays goalie, freshman Ella Bulfer, played a great game, making several diving saves. 

“She’s been doing it all season,” Tomlinson shared. “She's phenomenal, one of the best goaltenders I’ve had the pleasure of coaching or playing with.” 

In the second overtime, a sideline inbounds pass was followed by a long shot on goal which went right through the fully extended, leaping, outstretched fingertips of Bulfer. 

“There’s nothing any of us can say that will make this any better,” Bluejays Tomlinson told players after the game. “You need to know you gave it everything you could tonight, just like you have all season. It hurts, but you know what, you left everything out there on the field. And we can’t ask any more of you than that.” 

Under first-year head coach, Tomlinson, the Blujays went 11-6-1, finishing second in their conference. They graduate three seniors Samantha Azure, Lang, and Bartelt. 

The Bluejays team had a chance to clinch the Big South Conference title for a second year in a row, but St. Peter, the only team in the conference to defeat them this year, took the second game between the two teams and took the title from the Bluejays 3-0.

Before the big regular-season finale against St. Peter, Waseca hosted Mankato Loyola Oct. 4 for what Coach Tomlinson called “an intense contest.”

After halftime, Evelyn Nydegger gave the team its first goal of the night. Loyola responded a few minutes later, scoring their lone goal of the night via penalty kick.