Subscribe

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — The longest unbeaten streak in Yokota girls soccer history ended Wednesday when American School In Japan edged the Panthers 2-1 on a penalty kick by Appan Lok with 15 minutes left.

Yokota fell to 11-1-2 overall and 6-1-2 in the Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools. The Mustangs improved to 6-1 and can win the league title Thursday against Zama or Monday against Kinnick, both at home.

“We really wanted this game,” said coach Matt Whipple, whose Panthers got their goal from Lauryn Thomas in the second half. “We wanted the championship and to control our destiny, but that didn’t happen.”

The contentious match featured two missed penalty-kick opportunities by Yokota’s Daniya Nixon. After a foul in the area, Nixon hit the post on the first try, but ASIJ goalkeeper Carly Vaire was whistled for leaving the goalline too soon. Nixon tried again and Vaire stopped it.

The foul call so infuriated ASIJ coach Carlos Aranda that he came onto the field to argue with the referees, and was still on the field during Nixon’s second penalty kick.

“I felt like I had to do it,” Aranda said. “I won’t do it again.”

Laura Inglesrud of ASIJ scored the match’s first goal in the 30th minute off a corner kick.

Sign Up for Daily Headlines

Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets from around the world.

Sign Up Now