Boys, Girls Soccer Roundup | Shoreline Christian can’t finish off run to state title
SUMNER - The Northwest Christian boys soccer team had been so close to a state title in the past.
On Saturday, the Crusaders of Colbert finally broke through by defeating Shoreline Christian 3-0 in the 1B/2B final at Sunset Chev Stadium.
Northwest Christian lost in the finals last year and also placed second in 2001 and 2002. But two second-half goals by Derek DeLaMatter help propel Northwest Christian (14-7-2) to its first state soccer title in school history.
“We wanted it so bad,” said DeLaMatter, a senior captain. “We hadn’t seen this team, so we didn’t know what to expect, but it was a great win.”
Shoreline Christian (14-8-1) concluded its storybook season by taking second. The team was 2-13 a year ago. But a new coach and strong senior leadership helped turn around the program.
“It started with the leadership of the seniors,” said Shoreline Christian coach Peter Thomsen, who was named coach a week before the season started. “They developed a lot of confidence in their play and their skill level, and that made a lot of difference this year.”
Shoreline Christian couldn’t regain the magic it had in its upset of Bear Creek the night before. Thomsen credited Northwest Christian’s aggressiveness.
“They took it to us,” Thomsen said. “They put us back on our heels and we weren’t ready for it.”
Derek Buttrick scored Northwest Christian’s first goal in the ninth minute.
Third-place game
Saint George’s 1,
Bear Creek 0 (shootout)
Saint George’s won the shootout 4-1, beating the Grizzlies (15-3), last year’s champion, behind the goalkeeping of Ryan Johnson.
2A girls
Championship game
Fife 2, Burlington-Edison 1
After losing to Burlington-Edison in the first round last year, Fife got revenge and won its first state championship.
Amanda Roselli and Haley Shaw scored for the Trojans (19-1). Fife led 2-0 with just under 10 minutes left, but the Tigers (19-4) made things interesting when midfielder Katie Griffith scored on a free kick in the 71st minute.
This is the first time Burlington-Edison has placed at state in six appearances.
Third-place game
Archbishop Murphy 4, West Valley (Spokane) 0
Behind sophomore midfielder Sam Pettinger’s hat trick, the Wildcats (22-1) finished in the top three at state for the seventh straight year. The Catholic school near Mill Creek won the championship last season.
Pettinger scored in the seventh, 53rd and 55th minutes. Maddie Huggins scored in the 29th minute to give the Wildcats a 2-0 halftime lead. The Eagles (16-6) placed for the first time in school history.
1B/2B/1A girls
Championship game
Meridian 1,
LaSalle 0 (shootout)
The Trojans (19-7) outlasted the Lightning (19-2) through two overtimes and won the shootout 4-2.
Meridian keeper Britney Schindler stopped Ariana McElrath’s attempt to seal the victory for the Trojans.
“Some of us don’t even feel it yet, but this is amazing,” said Schindler, who had six saves and recorded the shutout. “I was so nervous going into [the shootout]. I didn’t want it to go into a shootout, but we pulled it out.”
Third-place game
Seattle Christian 3, King’s 1
Terrika Weaver scored three goals, including two in the first three minutes, to lead the Warriors (16-6) over the Knights (13-8-1). Kendall Thoreson had the lone King’s goal.