A battle between the Skyline Spartans and Issaquah Eagles soccer teams in the Class 4A KingCo championship game couldn’t be decided in 80 minutes of regulation or two five-minute overtime sessions.

The KingCo championship came down to a penalty kick shootout. During the shootout, each team had 10 opportunities to score and both teams were once again deadlocked at 7-7. The outcome would then come down to Skyline goalie Anna Smith and Issaquah goalie Nerea Arrazola facing off in penalty kicks. Arrazola was the first to attempt a shot on goal against Smith, and her shot caromed off the left post.

With a chance to put the game away, Smith delivered. Smith’s shot sailed into the lower left corner of the net past Arrazola, giving the Spartans an 8-7 advantage in penalty kicks and a 1-0 win against the Eagles in dramatic fashion on Nov. 3. at Skyline High School in Sammamish. Bedlam ensued as Skyline players and students from the stands made a beeline for the field to celebrate the dramatic triumph.

Smith was jovial following the game.

“I have never scored the game-winning goal before. That is new. I had to think like a goal-keeper for a second and think of where I would go and what I would do,” Smith said of how she mentally prepared for her shot on goal. “I was filled with so much adrenaline, it just came off of my foot and went into the side of the net.”

Skyline head coach Don Braman was overcome with joy following the emotional win in front of the hometown crowd.

“It was an amazing game. They totally deserve this. Issaquah was phenomenal and they pushed us to the limit. Both teams had a chance to win this game (in regulation) and they just didn’t go in. I have never seen a game end in goal-keeper versus goal-keeper. We’re just happy Anna was able to step up and hit the shot,” Braman said. “I couldn’t think of a better kid for that to happen to. She is so deserving and works so hard. She is such an essential part of what we do as a team. For her to get that added cherry on the top and get the game-winning goal was phenomenal.”

The Spartans clinched a berth at the Class 4A state tournament with the win and will be the No. 1 seed out of district 2. Issaquah head coach Tom Bunnell remained upbeat following the loss against the Spartans.

“It was just a crazy game. I don’t even know what to say. I have never been in a game like that before and have never seen anything like it,” Bunnell said. “We’ll regroup from this and we’ll do just fine.”