By Gerardo Bolong
RENTON - Tyee reverted to a more attacking style against a punishing foe before emerging with a 2-1 shoot out SPSL 2A girls soccer league tournament win against Orting on Mon., Oct. 22, at Renton Memorial Stadium.
After teammates Jordyn Gifford, Cinthia Canterero, Jace Collier and Mackenzie Sewell had scored penalty kick goals to put the Totems into a 4-3 lead following four rounds,  Tania Tapia-Cardenas toed the mark and delivered a low kick into the shooter’s left of the net to clinch the Tyee Totem victory.
“It was the energy level,” said the mercurial midfielder. “All we wanted to do was score. I stayed up front and we had more up balls. In the first half, we stayed behind the ball and followed.”
With the win, the Totems clinched at least a fourth seed into the West Central District tournament. Tyee moved on to face Lindbergh in the semifinals at 7 p.m. at Renton Memorial the following night.
“We had to play ugly at times,” said Totem head coach Paola Mottola. “It was their physicality versus our finesse. The girls needed to keep their defense busy.”
First half action featured the constant Orting power versus the passing and quickness of Tyee.
For the most part, the Cardinals owned territorial rights and field position as the Totems only showed glimpses of offense.
Despite the opponent’s ownership of the field, goalkeeper Loveah Lodge and the Tyee back line held off the constant Orting forays up the middle. Marking the midfield became an arduous task, but the Totems were able to keep the match at a scoreless halftime draw.
Needing a method to rejuvenate the offense, Tyee head coach Mottola moved midfielder Tapia-Cardenas to the front, enabling her quick dribbling skills to confront two defenders instead of seven.
This stratagem provided quick dividends for the Totems in the second half.
Tapia-Cardenas utilized her dribbling skills to clear herself on the right side, positioning her self to angle a right to left shot into goal in the 50th minute. Quickness meant more ball possessions that translated into more frequent attacks led by Cardenas and Julie Cruz into the enveloping fog.
The Orting offense was still lurking and senior Katie Harvie cleared on the left side to tie the score in the 72nd minute.
Momentum now fell in line with the Cardinals, but Tapia-Cardenas broke free and was fouled inside the two-minute mark to the end of regulation, leading to a penalty kick of 18 yards just to right of the right hash mark.
Her kick sailed high and left, leading into two five-minute, scoreless overtime periods before the deciding shoot out.
“In the second half, we had three backs when Tania moved up from the midfield,” said defender Sewell. “”We had to communicate and talk to each other. Jordyn let everyone know where the players were.”
With one more win, the players will be in the league tournament finals.