Tessa Anastasi is a junior who stands 5 feet, 6 inches tall, and she’s been the starting goalkeeper for the Lake Stevens High School girls soccer team since her freshman year.
Her job? To not allow any points on the scoreboard for the opponent and to stop every shot from crossing the goal line.
Easier said than done since she’s responsible for blocking a 24-by-8 net.
After three years of wearing the goalie gloves and being the Vikings’ shot-stopper, she’s finally engraved her name into the record books as one of the best goalkeepers in the state.
She recorded 13 shutouts this year, three of which were in the Class 4A state tournament, and her overall contributions helped lead Lake Stevens to its first state title in program history.
For her successful season, Anastasi is The Herald’s Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
“It’s definitely still insane because we come to school on Monday (after the championship) and everybody’s congratulating us. And the feelings are just so heightened because of how special this moment really is. I’m just so thankful,” Anastasi said. “Freshman year, I was very timid. … Sophomore year, I gained my goalie coach, Laura (Lovett), and she definitely boosted my confidence. And junior year has been perfect with her because of how much we’ve been training and how much I’ve been building. That last game especially, I just knew I had to give it everything, all my confidence, and it worked out.
“I love the thrill,” she continued about having shots blasted at her. “I love being the one that people can rely on, that people can trust behind them because of my abilities. … It does get stressful sometimes because of me getting down on myself if a goal does go in. But I just go on to the next because I know that’s the position I play.”
The season concluded on Nov. 23 after the eighth-seeded Vikings earned a 1-0 victory over second-seeded Woodinville in the finals at Sparks Stadium. Lake Stevens finished with 19-1-2 overall and 11-0-1 league records, which also included winning the Wesco 4A title.
The most goals in a game the Vikings conceded all year were two, and it was against two-time defending state champion Skyline in the state quarterfinals, a game in which Lake Stevens posted a 3-2 upset victory.
Prior to winning the trophy, the Vikings blanked Issaquah 2-0 in the semifinals, a team that had knocked them out in the district winner-to-state, loser-out game last year.
“As a freshman, that’s a pretty intimidating role to play as a starting keeper on varsity, but she really had all the tools to begin with,” third-year coach Sam Ford said. “When she played as a sophomore against Issaquah in the playoffs, I’m not sure she was fully prepared for that level. I think it was somewhat overwhelming for her, but it ended up being probably the best training she could get for what happened this year. Coming into the playoffs, she was much more aware of what she could expect. … She stepped up this year, and I think in part that’s because of our goalie coach. … She has helped Tessa to reach a new level of excellence and refine the raw talent she already had.
“Last year at Issaquah, she got scored on several corner kicks, things that we trained specifically for this year,” he continued. “If you watch the games against Issaquah and Woodinville, she was deflecting balls and had her hand pretty much on the crossbar and really just has grown to be a dominating keeper, and I think the best keeper in the state. She probably proved that (last) weekend.”
Ford added that Anastasi turned the corner this season and displayed a new level of her abilities in a district win against Lincoln (Seattle). She saved two shots during the shootout, which Ford said, “In the scenario, it felt like the responsibility for the win landed square on her shoulders.”
In addition to Lake Stevens’ brick wall of Anastasi, the Vikings’ offense tallied 72 goals this season. A key offensive player was sophomore forward Noelani Tupua, who netted 24 goals.
“Noe’s shots are so well placed and have such a power to them to where it actually trains me and helps me to be ready for other shots from other teams,” said Anastasi, who’s played with Tupua and her older sister, Keira, since she was 8 years old. “Noe obviously is a very big powerhouse, … (and her shots in practice) prepare me for real-life games.”
The season may be over, but the celebrations in Lake Stevens will continue. Though 10 seniors played their last game a few weeks ago, and they ended their careers on the highest note possible, the team looks to carry the momentum into next year.
Anastasi said: “We have a big target on our back because obviously winning state next year around, everybody wants to beat the state champion. Because then, you beat the best you are the best. And I think next year we just need to understand and take the role as the champions and do our best to defend that.”
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