By Gail Wood
She’s been her coach’s solution to “Who can I play here?”
Whether it’s as a defender or as a scorer, Lexi Fesenbek has accepted her role, without complaint. Now, after playing defense last season, she’s the scorer her coach hoped she’d be, sparking the offense.
With 24 goals in 15 games, Lexi is a big reason why Olympia is off to an 11-1-3. Against Shelton in a blowout win, she scored six goals.
“Lexi is lightning fast,” Olympia coach Tessa Effland said. “She’s played everywhere on the field. She does whatever the team needs her to do.”
Last year, Effland asked Fesenbek to play defense. And Fesenbek, without complaint, accepted the position swap even though it may have detracted from her personal goal – earning a college scholarship in soccer. Yet even with the position change, Fesenbek still earned first-team all-league.
“I was comfortable playing defense,” Fesenbek said. “I still scored some goals. It’s what was best for the team.”
Fesenbek is a second generation Bear.
Her dad, Mike, played football for Olympia in the late 1980s under coach Bob Dunn, graduating in 1987. Her mom, Shayni, played soccer for Olympia and was teammates with Effland.
Now, Lexi’s parents are at nearly every game, cheering. It’s like a double feature. Lexi’s younger sister, Nichole, is also on the team.
“It’s really cool,” Shayni said. “We love Olympia High School. We love going to the games.”
Lexi said her parents are supportive, not pushy. When she was little, her mom was the perpetual taxi, driving her to practice and games.
“They keep me going,” Lexi said about her parent’s support. “They expect the best for me. It’s good.”
From Lexi’s first game in soccer at age 5, she’s always had the knack and the speed to score.
“She’s incredible,” Shayni said. “She’s so fast. She could have scored so many goals in high school. This year she’s coming into her game.”
Lexi, who has a 3.7 GPA and hopes to play in soccer in college, is one of three four-year starters on Olympia’s varsity this year. Annie Armstrong and Rachael Fleener have also started since they were freshmen. Three other seniors who start, Javone McClelland, Hannah Harpel and Megan Schmidt, are part of a strong senior class that’s providing a “lets do it” leadership.
Because of that senior leadership, Effland came into the season optimistic about her team’s chances in a tough 4A Narrows League.
“Over the summer they showed they had the commitment that it takes to be good,” Effland said. “We had 60 girls show up for workouts. It’s because of our returning senior class that commitment is there.”
That hard work has paid off during the second half of matches this season.
“Fitness wise we just keep getting stronger,” Effland said. “Sometimes we’re not the greatest first-half team. But we can play a strong second half. Our girls are physically strong because of the hard work they put in over the summer.”
In Olympia’s first 14 games, the Bears outscored opponents 42-8 with seven reported shutouts. The most goals the Bears gave up in a game was three against Gig Harbor, losing 3-2.
“I think we’ve been successful because for the first time in a long time we have that balance with our offense and defense,” Effland said. “It’s an aggressive group.”
With the playoffs coming up, Olympia is playing its best soccer of the season.
“I feel like we’re clicking really well as a team,” Lexi said. “We’re moving the ball well and we’re playing really good defense.”
