Kamiakin wins district title

Smiles haven't come easy for Chris Erikson this season.

The Kamiakin girls soccer coach got a reality check last spring, when she was diagnosed with Stage 3 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a cancer that attacks white blood cells.

But Erikson had plenty to smile about Saturday. She watched the Braves (15-1-1) beat Richland 1-0 in the CBBN district championship match at Bomber Field. The win gave the distinguished coach, now in her 23rd year, her 11th district title at Kamiakin and her first since 2000.

The Braves earned the CBBN's top seed to the 4A Eastern Regionals and will face the loser of Tuesday's Moses Lake-Pasco contest on Saturday at Lampson Stadium.

Richland (14-2) will remain at home to face Southridge at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a regional seeding game.

After the game, Erikson stood at midfield amid a happy throng of Kamiakin players and parents, taking in the moment.

"It's made everybody think what's important in life," said Erikson, who is still undergoing treatment and is optimistic about her recovery. "(At first), I wanted to pretend it wasn't real. I wanted to deal with family first. I didn't want it to detract from the team."

Instead, Erikson's fight against cancer has helped galvanize a team that dropped a 4-1 decision to the Bombers on Sept. 19 -- the Braves' only loss of the season. As a show of solidarity, the team made up wristbands that read 'Team Erikson' which they have worn much of the season.

"It means everything to win for her," said Kamiakin midfielder Shelby Gunion, who scored the game's only goal in the seventh minute, getting a knee on a cross from Kristyn Bohlander and redirecting it past Richland goalkeeper Olivia Diaz. "She's battled some hard things in her life."

Braves goalkeeper Madi Meyer was tested by a Bombers offense despite the absence of all-CBBN forward Bria Caldwell, who was playing in a soccer prospects tournament. Richland outshot Kamiakin 18-6 but had trouble generating quality chances.

"Kamiakin played hard, but we only played 40 minutes. That's something we need to remember in the playoffs," said Bombers coach Sara Elfering. "The second half gave us hope, but you can't win games on hope."

Richland's best chance came in the final two minutes, when freshman Kristen Calmus dribbled up the left flank and centered a pass to Teea Bunker just outside the 6-yard box. Bunker got a touch on the ball and tapped a low shot toward the goal, but Meyer was positioned directly in front of her and reacted quickly.

"It was hard, because you just see bodies everywhere," said Meyer, who made nine saves for her sixth shutout this season. "As a goalkeeper, it's all about making quick decisions. I just tried to hit the ground."

Meyer, a senior, spent her first three seasons with the Braves as a forward. But she has been a big part of Kamiakin's success this year, playing 88 percent of the team's minutes in goal and allowing just 0.73 goals a game in 1,200 minutes.

"It's hard and scary learning something new," said Meyer, who has had help from Braves assistant and former Kamiakin keeper Heather Davis. "I've got a really strong defense, so I don't get too concerned."