TENINO — It didn’t feel like much of a historic night for Tenino senior goalkeeper Gracelyn Sweet against Hoquiam on Thursday, Oct. 15.
In an 11-on-8 matchup against short-handed Hoquiam, the Beavers only allowed one shot, and it was a free kick by the Grizzlies goalkeeper that sailed wide. But with the 5-0 clean sheet against Hoquiam, Sweet is now the program’s all-time leader in shutouts in net with 19.
Her record-breaking night came to life because of a dominant second half on offense by the Beavers that saw them slot four goals into the net, the last of which also carried some history.
With Callie Mickelson’s 75th-minute connection from Kyla Watson, Watson became the school’s all-time leader in assists with 38. Seniors Watson and Sweet are crucial veteran pieces to a Tenino squad one win away from an Evergreen Conference title.
“It’s cool to break a record. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without these kinds of games where I don’t have to do anything, but it also feels good for the games that I do have to work for it,” Sweet said. “I hope to hold a record like that for a while and keep my name out there.”
Both seniors were honored by the PA announcer during their record-breaking moments. Watson gave all the credit to her teammates for her success facilitating the offense.
“I’m glad my teammates can help me accomplish that, and I’m grateful that I can be in the record books forever and my work has paid off,” she said. “I can trust my teammates and not worry about if they’re gonna mess up.”
Offensively, it wasn’t a clean first half for Tenino, which blitzed Hoquiam with shot after shot, but shots just either didn’t fall or Grizzlies goalkeeper Emily Brodhead made a great play on them. Rayanna Mustoe and Kylie Gonia were the most aggressive in the attacking third early in the first half, yet the Beavers were held out of the goal until the 36th minute, when Mickelson drilled a goal from an assist by Maria Summers.
Up 1-0 at halftime, the Beavers lived in the corner in the opening 10 minutes of the second half and couldn’t break through. Finally, in the 55th minute, Mikeala Cutlip put in a sliding goal from Georgia Gore’s assist, and the floodgates opened from there.
Eighth grader Jaylynn Franklin tallied her first varsity goal seven minutes later, and freshman Mya Chapman added her first varsity goal another seven minutes after that. Mickelson secured a brace in the 75th minute on the record-breaking assist from Watson.
Tenino outshot Hoquiam 38-1, with Brodhead recording close to 30 saves in the net. And even though Sweet didn’t need to expend much effort on her side of the pitch, her impact as a leader has been felt in the program since she split time at keeper as a sophomore.
“It was really clear her sophomore year that she had many leadership qualities,” Tenino head coach Trevor Fetbrandt said. “She’s a key energy person for our group. Beyond that, she’s a super talented player. She’s one of the best goalkeepers in the area. She’s important in every way that you can think.”
Fetbrandt described Watson as a “true winger” with a unique blend that can burn defenses and get down the line while possessing the versatility to play on the other end of the pitch.
“She’s comfortable coming inside and operating in the tight spaces in the middle. There’s not a lot of wingers that we face that can go both sides of the field and be equally effective,” he said. “Being the all-time assists leader for the school means that you’ve got to be particularly talented at one thing, and it’s her ability to serve a ball in all aspects of play. She serves a great ball and has great touch.”
With a win over Elma on Tuesday, Oct. 20, the Beavers (12-1-1, 6-0-0 Evergreen) will take the crown of the Evergreen Conference, regardless of what happens with Montesano or Rochester. Tenino’s veterans who have grown with the program understand that the pressure is building from the outside, but they know there’s no ceiling to what they can accomplish in the postseason.
“I feel like we’re just getting started,” Sweet said. “A league title is just a start for us. We’ve shown here what we are capable of doing. I’m so excited for us to show off what Tenino can do. Last year, we got close, but this one’s gonna be the year.”
