Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008

Soccer roundup: Pasco girls fall in 4A quarters

By Jack Millikin, Herald staff writer

PASCO -- Morgan Sullivan gave a quick but painful glance at a jubilant Mead girls soccer team while it celebrated its dramatic 2-1 shootout win over Pasco in a 4A state quarterfinal Saturday at Edgar Brown Stadium.

Just seconds before, Sullivan had watched her fifth-round penalty kick get swallowed up by Panthers goalkeeper Kelsey Terris to clinch the win and a trip to the state semifinals in Lakewood.

Sullivan, a senior forward and four-year starter, was in a virtually identical situation two weeks ago, burying a game-winning fifth-round spot kick against Southridge to give the Bulldogs their first-ever district title.

But that was different. Instead of rejoicing with Sullivan in victory, Pasco gathered around their fallen captain in consolation.

"It was just so hard, because two weeks ago it was my team running towards me," Sullivan said. "I'm just so proud and honored to have played with them and to have been given that title. It meant everything in the world to me."

The loss sealed perhaps the finest season the program has ever had, as the Bulldogs (15-4) earned a share of their second straight league title and made a strong run in the state playoffs.

But the fact that Pasco had so many fruitless scoring chances during the run of play made elimination all the more difficult to process.

"I thought we could have scored five goals. We had our chances," said Bulldogs coach Justin Carey. "But I don't think I'd change a thing -- not the plan, not the personnel."

Mead (18-1), which will play Skyline at 8 p.m. Friday in Lakewood, took a 1-0 lead after Lauren Layton tapped in a nicely served corner kick from Morgan Fryman in the 30th minute. The Panthers took that lead to the locker room at halftime.

"We weren't planning on that holding up. I felt like we would need another opportunity to score," said Mead's Steve Snider, a second-year coach making his first trip to the semis. "We prepped the girls to expect (a comeback)."

Pasco answered quickly in the second half, as Sullivan flicked a ball over to Shawna Anderson at midfield just off the opening whistle. Anderson then charged down the right side, beating two defenders, and lofted a ball over Terris and into the upper-right corner of the net to tie the score.

"I went up to Morgan right before the kickoff and said, 'I don't want this to be the last time we play together,' " said Anderson, a junior forward with 15 goals. "I saw a really small crack, took one touch and shot."

In the shootout, Bulldogs keeper Mahaley Sapp stopped the Panthers' first two shots by Mikayla Anderson and Olivia Eldridge, and it appeared as if Pasco might have the edge. But Terris stopped Nicki Grigg's first-round shot and Missy Everson's third-round attempt rolled wide of the right post to even things up heading into the fourth round.

"Mahaley is always something you can count on," Carey said. "We work on shootouts so endlessly. But we didn't challenge the goalkeeper. She was guessing."

The teams traded goals in the fourth round, and Behka Nemec drilled the Panthers' fifth-round attempt to set up Sullivan for a must-have kick. Sullivan aimed at the right side, but admitted she didn't get off a strong shot, and Terris shuffled to her left to make the save.

"It's exciting to go to the finals. It's what we've all been working for," said Terris after her first shootout of the season. "I knew I had to make (the fifth-round) save. She looked in the corner she was going to. I was expecting a little harder shot."

Scoring--1, M, Lauren Layton (Morgan Fryman), 30:00; 2, P, Shawna Anderson (Morgan Sullivan), 41:00. Shootout goals (Mead 3-2)--M, Jill Pecka, Layton, Behka Nemec. P, Kaylie Winston, Caitlyn Blundon. Shots--M 14, P 17. Saves--M, Kelsey Terris 4. P, Mahaley Sapp 5.

Seattle Academy 2, Connell 0

CONNELL -- Mackenzie Brandon broke up a scoreless tie in the 54th minute and Seattle Academy (20-1) got an own goal with four minutes left to seal its 1A state quarterfinal win over Connell (15-5).

"The first half, we were able to stay with them, but in the second half we ran out of gas," said Eagles coach Hugo Garcia. "They controlled the midfield and we fell apart."

Scoring--1, SA, Mackenzie Brandon 54:00; 2, SA, own goal 76:00. Shots--SA 18, C 5. Saves--SA, Talia Shulman 2. C, Maci Whitby 12.