The Pasco girls soccer team entered the 2008 season with high expectations after sharing the CBL 4A regular-season championship with Richland last season.
Those expectations proved a heavier burden than anticipated as the Bulldogs started this season poorly, going scoreless through their first three games in an 0-3 start.
But after reeling off 12 straight wins, including a 4-3 victory over Kamiakin (11-5, 10-3 CBBN) on Saturday to clinch a share of a second straight league title at Lampson Stadium, the Bulldogs (12-3, 12-1) have realized that same dismal start may have been the beginning of a much bigger success story.
"Our team was so built up after last year. We were thinking we were the best, and we lost," said junior defender Missy Everson, who scored two second-half goals to double her season total. "It was very humbling."
Through some early-season soul searching and a lot of hard work, Pasco licked its wounds and began picking up impressive victories over West Valley, Eisenhower and Richland over the next few weeks. Before the Bulldogs knew it, they were back in the hunt for the CBBN title.
"We needed that humility. It was the best thing for us, really," said Pasco coach Justin Carey, whose team will visit top-seeded Southridge for the CBBN district championship at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The Suns (14-2, 12-1) handed the Bulldogs their only league loss, 4-0. Both teams will be looking for their first-ever district championship. Southridge lost to Richland in 2005 in its only title appearance, while Pasco has made five trips to the district championship (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2007) since 1990, losing each time to Richland.
Kamiakin will play host to Moses Lake at 1 p.m. Saturday at Lampson Stadium in a loser-out district game.
"We're optimistic about the playoffs. We've come through the back door before," said Braves coach Chris Erikson, referring to a fourth-place finish at state in 2006 after a second-place finish in league. But Erikson didn't believe that either team brought their "A" game in the regular-season finale.
"The flow (of the game) was awkward," she said. "Neither team really showed what they can do. It seemed like both teams weren't playing all out."
The Bulldogs took a 2-0 first-half lead despite being outshot 8-5, and it looked like Pasco may be in the driver's seat heading into the second half. But Carey knew the Braves weren't done.
"Any time you're playing a good team with a good coach -- I knew Chris would get them pumped up," Carey said.
Sure enough, the Braves came out swinging, and cut the lead to 2-1 in the 44th minute. Shelby Bigness launched a corner kick from the left side to the far post, where Meagan McKinney put a header on goal. The ball ricocheted off Everson and past goalie Mahaley Sapp.
But Everson made it 3-1 Pasco in the 48th minute, booming a 45-yard kick from midfield that dipped under the crossbar and just over the fingertips of Kamiakin goalkeeper Megan Carreras. She added another goal six minutes later, heading in a corner kick from Kaylie Winston at the far post.
"I've been trying for one of those," Everson said. "Winston sets a lot of things up. She's always looking for the pass."
Winston had two assists on the day to finish with a CBBN-leading 19.
But the Braves weren't done.
Jori Skorpik got pushed down just inside the penalty box in the 64th minute, resulting in a penalty kick for Kamiakin. Kristyn Bohlander put it away for her 14th goal of the year. Finally, the Braves cut Pasco's lead to 1 in the 77th minute after defender Caitlyn Blundon tried to clear a ball across the Bulldogs box, but it instead found the corner of the Pasco net.
"I wasn't satisfied with the way the game ended, but it was good to see the players weren't, either," Carey said. "Last year they would have been jumping up and down, happy that they won. It shows how they've changed."
Scoring--1, P, own goal, 23:00; 2, P, Marianne Johnson, 27:00; 3, K, Meagan McKinney (Shelby Bigness), 44:00; 4, P, Missy Everson (Kendall Reynolds), 48:00; 5, P, Everson (Winston), 54:00; 6, K, Kristyn Bohlander (PK), 64:00; 7, K, own goal, 77:00. Shots--P 16, K 13. Saves--P, Mahaley Sapp 4. K, Megan Carreras 3.