On a team featuring six “super seniors,” it was a junior that stepped up big for The Overlake School girls’ soccer team as the Owls beat Charles Wright Academy, 1-0, in a loser-out, tri-district playoff opener Wednesday night at Sammamish High School.

Twelve minutes into the second half, senior Maya Marder fed the ball to junior Emily Kelly, who drilled the game-winner from about 30 yards out.

For more photos of this match, visit photographer Matt Campbell’s Web site at

Earlier in the season, Kelly may have passed up the long shot, but with the Owls and Tarriers locked in a 0-0 draw in a pivotal elimination playoff game, she decided to let the ball fly.

Kelly’s perfectly placed kick was launched into the upper right corner of the goal, out of the reach of Charles Wright senior goalkeeper Natalie Powell, who recorded eight saves during the game.

“We’ve been talking to our central midfielders about being ready to shoot when the ball comes to them, and Emily just stepped up and hit it when it was right there to her,” said Overlake head coach Sally Goodspeed. “It was a terrific shot.”

In a game where neither team’s defense was giving anything up, Kelly’s fourth goal of the season, and first since Oct. 14 against Forest Ridge, couldn’t have come at a better time.

“It was just kind of there, but I’ve been working on that because I always pass up those shots,” said Kelly about her game-winner. “(Powell) is a good goalie, so I was worried. She had made a lot of good saves.”

The game was much more one-sided than the final score indicated, as Overlake’s high-powered offense recorded seven shots on goal in the first half, without a score, to Charles Wright’s three.

The Owls ended up taking 15 shots in total.

“It took a lot for us to put one away. They’re a good team, they played hard against us, and it took a really nice shot to beat them,” said Goodspeed, adding that her team will need to work on its finishing and defense as the postseason wears on. “We’re creating some good (chances), it’s just making sure we put the ball away when it’s there for us. We always have to work on our defending a little and make sure we’re staying patient and keeping the ball in front of us.”

With the win, the Owls will play in a winner-to-state game at 5 p.m. tomorrow at King’s High School in Seattle against Vashon Island, which routed Meridian 4-0 in its opening-round matchup on Wednesday.

If the Owls win on Friday, they will be the tri-district’s No. 4 to the 1A state tournament, and should they lose they will get one more chance in a loser-out, winner-to-state contest on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. also at King’s School.

Naturally, the Owls are hoping they can get the job done and not have to play on Saturday.

“We feel good about it,” said Goodspeed on her team’s chances. “We’ve got a lot to work on in one day to prepare, but hopefully we’ll be ready to take care of business and play well enough to win.”

For more photos of this match, visit photographer Matt Campbell’s Web site at www.sportspixs.com.