The Bonney Lake Panthers girls soccer team delivered an electric performance on Saturday afternoon, hosting the Graham-Kapowsin Eagles in a key league match as October's chill hung in the air. With gusts of wind, cold spells, and the threat of rain looming, it felt like a day for gritty, defensive soccer. But the rain held off, and the Panthers, led by an unstoppable Jaylee Reynolds, put on a show under the overcast sky.
The Panthers wasted no time asserting their dominance. Just 10 minutes into the match, senior Grace Atkinson broke through the Eagles' defense with a perfectly placed strike from 15 yards out, giving Bonney Lake an early 1-0 lead. From there, Bonney Lake controlled possession, keeping the ball in Graham-Kapowsin’s half and applying constant pressure. Despite the Eagles' efforts, the Panthers' defense held firm.
Then, with just three minutes left in the first half, junior Brynn Fitch delivered a pinpoint corner kick to the center of the box. There, waiting with perfect positioning, was Reynolds. The senior soared above the defenders and, with a powerful header, doubled Bonney Lake’s lead to 2-0, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
But Reynolds wasn’t finished. In the dying moments of the first half, she capitalized on a loose ball in the box, hammering in her second goal from five yards out just as the buzzer sounded. Heading into halftime, Bonney Lake held a commanding 3-0 advantage.
Graham-Kapowsin emerged from the break with renewed energy, and their adjusted game plan was evident as they played more evenly with Bonney Lake in the early minutes of the second half. The Eagles finally broke through in the 55th minute, scoring from close range amid a crowded goalmouth to cut the Panthers' lead to 3-1.
But just as the Eagles appeared to gain momentum, Reynolds once again took control. In the 65th minute, she completed her hat trick, then added a fourth goal just four minutes later, racing past defenders on a breakaway and launching a 20-yard shot into the back of the net. With that, Bonney Lake surged to a 5-1 lead.
Graham-Kapowsin managed to pull another goal back in the 80th minute, making it 5-2, but the day belonged to Reynolds. In the final moments of the match, she capped off her performance with a fifth goal, sealing the 6-2 victory and putting an exclamation mark on an already remarkable afternoon.
With just two home games remaining in the regular season, the Panthers have their sights set on finishing strong. Their next challenge comes on Tuesday, October 22nd, when they host the Olympia Bears in what promises to be an exciting league matchup. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Bonney Lake.
For now, though, the spotlight shines brightly on Jaylee Reynolds, whose five-goal performance has cemented her as one of the key players to watch as the Panthers aim for a postseason berth.
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