Bonney Lake Boys Soccer Battles Back to Earn Senior Night Draw Against Rogers

Austin Khmara, Danny Panasyuk, Alexander Fuiz Alvarez, Beckham Ottele, Gavin Schloer, Jullien Adkins, Coach Alec Miles

On a spring evening in Bonney Lake, with clouds from a recent stretch of wet weather slowly giving way to glimpses of sun, the Bonney Lake Panthers took the pitch on Senior Night.

With six seniors honored before kickoff, Alexander Ruiz Alvarez, Gavin Schloer, Austin Khmara, Beckham Ottele, Jullien Adkins, and Danny Panasyuk, the Panthers looked to cap their home slate with a strong performance against a solid Rogers Rams squad.

What unfolded was a gritty, defensive battle.

From the opening whistle, both teams locked in on the defensive end, limiting space and forcing tough angles. The Panthers’ back line, anchored by senior goalkeeper Alexander Ruiz Alvarez, held firm throughout the first half, while Rogers matched that intensity with a disciplined defensive shape of their own.

Scoring opportunities were hard to come by.

Alexander Ruiz Alvarez

Bonney Lake found brief moments in the attacking third, with senior Austin Khmara pushing forward and generating a pair of early looks, but clean chances remained elusive. Rogers eventually broke through midway through the first half, capitalizing on a long-range strike from roughly 25 yards out that found the left side of the net, giving the Rams a 1-0 advantage.

Despite the deficit, the Panthers never wavered.

The second half carried much of the same tone, tight, physical, and defined by defensive execution. Bonney Lake continued to search for an opening, generating a handful of chances, including a shot on goal from sophomore Micah Blesso, but the equalizer remained just out of reach.

Until the moment came.

Austin Khmara - Game tying goal

With the pressure building, Bonney Lake was awarded a penalty kick in the 72nd minute, setting the stage for a Senior Night breakthrough. Khmara stepped to the spot and delivered, drilling a shot into the right side of the net to tie the match at 1-1 and bring the home crowd to its feet.

It was the kind of moment Senior Night is made for.

From there, both teams dug in once more. The Panthers’ defense continued to hold strong, preserving the tie down the stretch in a match where every inch of the field had to be earned.

As the final whistle sounded, Bonney Lake walked off with a hard-fought 1-1 draw, an outcome that reflected the effort, resilience, and defensive discipline shown throughout the night.

For the Panthers, it was a fitting sendoff at home for a senior class that helped anchor the team through a challenging, rebuilding season. And on a night meant to celebrate their contributions, it was only fitting that one of them delivered the game’s biggest moment.

Bonney Lake now turns its attention to the road, traveling to Olympia for its next match on Tuesday, April 28.