Kamiakin heads to Final Four

Kamiakin girls soccer coach Chris Erikson had to be a little curious to see how Madi Meyer, her senior goalkeeper, would perform in a shootout against Lewis & Clark on Friday at Lampson Stadium.

Meyer, a first-year goalie, has done well against penalty kicks in practice but had not yet been tested in a game situation, much less a 4A state quarterfinal.

But Erikson doesn't have to worry anymore.

In a trial by fire following a 1-1 regulation tie, Meyer made perhaps the biggest save of her career in the first round of a 4-2 shootout win over the Tigers, diving to her left for a two-handed save on Caylin Novell's low liner. That save gave her team all the edge it needed after the Braves converted all four of their shots -- including the clincher by Brianna Brannan.

"I was just excited. I was really confident after yesterday," said Meyer, who made impressive saves against some of Kamiakin's top shooters during a recent practice at Lampson. "As soon as I walked off the field (after overtime), Heather (Davis, the Braves goalkeeper coach) said, 'Get one, and then the team will do the rest."

Kamiakin (18-1-1) will face today's winner between Issaquah (15-2) and Monroe (12-5-2) at 6 p.m. Friday at Harry E. Lang Stadium in Lakewood in the semifinals.

"Madi played a very good game. That was her best game all season," said Erikson, who in her 23rd season as coach will make her fifth trip to the Final Four. "I am so impressed with these girls. That was a very good team we played today. I think this team just doesn't quit."

Lewis & Clark outshot Kamiakin 14-4 during the run of play and managed to hold possession in Braves territory for much of the game. The Tigers got on the board in the 28th minute, when Sarah Barrentine sent a pass in from midfield into Kamiakin's penalty box. Forward Bev Amstadter took advantage of a hesitant Braves defense, controlling the ball and then splitting between two defenders before firing a low shot past Meyer into the left corner.

"I ran to Madi and said, 'Don't let it get you down,' " said Brannan, a senior defender.

In the final minute of the first half, Kamiakin sophomore Kristyn Bohlander set up for a corner kick from the left side, hoping to connect with one of her teammates for a goal.

She got more than that. Bohlander, who has four assists in four postseason games, gave the ball just enough air to catch a strong wind and curl towards the LC goal. She placed it so well, in fact, that it bounced off a Tigers' defender and into the net for the equalizer.

"I was just trying to get it close," said Bohlander, who has 10 goals and 14 assists this season. "Whatever works."

Erikson acknowledged that she had never seen a more clutch corner kick, especially from a sophomore.

"She just had a perfect in-swing," Erikson said. "She practices on all technical aspects of the game on her own."

Bohlander also buried the Braves' first-round kick in the shootout, driving the ball with authority past LC keeper Sarah Wood. Following Bohlander in the shootout were Emilee Meyer, Shannon Gunion and Brannan, who stepped up to the spot unaware that she could clinch a Final Four trip.

"I didn't even know it at the time," she said. "Either way, I was going to go for the same spot."

Seconds later, she drove a high liner into the left corner of the net past Wood for the win.