The semi final game was dead locked at 0-0 with the time dwindling down. As time expired, a silence fell over the crowd as reality set in. A spot in the state tournament, which Seattle Prep and Lincoln worked all season to secure, would come down to a penalty shootout. The Panthers ending up firing themselves into the finals, outscoring the Lynx 4-3 in the shootout.
Lincoln appeared favored based on the records of the two teams. Lincoln came in with a 12-2-2 record, while Prep finished the regular season with an 8-3-3 record. Whilst Lincoln also had a record of 1-1-0 against Prep. Although Lincoln was the favorites, Prep was far from a weak opponent, ultimately allowing them to hand Lincoln an unexpected loss.
Both the Panthers and the Lynx were held to zero within regular play, a product of the low-scoring defensive style used by both teams. Lincoln averages 1.8 goals every game, as well as Prep averaging 1.3 goals a game. In their three regular season head to head matchups, Lincoln and Seattle Prep mustered just 1 total goal.
This win sent Prep them straight to state, but Lincoln still has a clear path to a spot as well. They play Roosevelt on May 8th, and a win will send them to state. Even if they lost that, they would then play in a win or go home game that would send them to the championship too.
Prep will face Ballard in the Metro League finals on May 10th at 7:00 pm in Memorial Stadium, but both teams have already clinched a chance to take home the coveted Washington boys soccer state championship.
