The Mount Si Wildcats girls’ soccer team took a huge step toward a postseason berth last Thursday night at Mount Si High School, defeating the Valley Division-leading Sammamish Totems 1-0 in overtime on a goal by freshman sensation Kirsten Mills.

The win became even more important after it was learned that the team did it without the services of star senior forward Kristen Berndt, who left the field in the second half with a hip injury.

“We had some help from this sparkplug [Mills]. Mills was incredible in overtime, and she had so much electricity in her game that I was just waiting for it to come and it showed. In the last 10 minutes of the game [when] we need[ed] her most, she came through. With Kristen hurting herself in the second half [and] not being available, this one stepped up … she’s making a name for herself,” said Mount Si Coach Darren Brown.

The game was scoreless through regulation, with both teams putting on a tight defensive battle. Mount Si got several chances to score, as did the Totems. The closest the Totems got to scoring was in the 71st minute, when a shot deflected off the crossbar and over the net.

When overtime came the Wildcats turned it on. Mills’ goal in the 83rd minute came off a feed from sophomore midfielder Jordan Tipton, and as soon as the goal was scored, the Mount Si fans erupted in celebration as they clearly knew what was at stake.

“I don’t know. It was the only opportunity I knew I’d get, so I had to make it count. I had to be calm, cool and collected right in front of the goal and luckily I put that one in,” said Mills.

The Wildcats didn’t let up either, as shortly after the goal was scored, both Mills and junior midfielder Amy Trenkamp got huge scoring chances off a breakaway.

The Wildcats played stifling defense the last several minutes of overtime, as the fans were nervously counting down the seconds. Once the final whistle sounded, the fans erupted once again in celebration and Mount Si knew it was in the playoff race to stay.

Credit a team effort for getting it done.

“We’re one team. We don’t have individuals,” Mills said.

Furthering that point, Tipton said each player contributes, even when other players are unable to due to injury.

“We have two big people out, but everybody stepped up their game. When one player goes down, everybody steps up their game, and everybody did. We did an awesome job,” Tipton said.

The win was important because Issaquah, battling the Wildcats for the last playoff spot in the Valley Division, likely had the easier schedule down the stretch. Now, both Mount Si and the Eagles each have one winnable game against a bad team, and one tough game against a good team. In Mount Si’s case, home fans will be able to see the tough game against a very good Cedarcrest team in the final round of girls’ soccer’s Valley Cup 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at Mount Si High School.

With the Red Wolves battling for the Valley Division crown, and the Wildcats possibly battling for their playoff lives, this game is sure to be a barnburner. In their first meeting against one another September 23, Cedarcrest used their speed and strong defense to score a big 2-0 victory over a Wildcat team which at the time was still learning the ropes under first-year coach Brown. Things have changed though. Since that game, the Wildcats have gone 7-1-1, best in the Kingco 3A.