Shorewood Girls Soccer survive elimination playoff, going to State

Shorewood high school’s girls varsity soccer team put on a tenacious performance last Tuesday night in clear, cold conditions at the 3A District 1 elimination playoff match of the league postseason soccer tournament. 

They had to slog against a stubborn Meadowdale team in the first elimination match, but prevailed by outworking and grinding down the Mavericks. 

In the second elimination match, they faced Edmonds-Woodway at Shoreline Stadium, having swept the Warriors in the regular season home-away matches. However, both games were closely contested, one a last-gasp winner in OT, motivating Warriors with payback on their minds. Both teams have a chip on their shoulders, having been eliminated from the main draw, now consigned to fight through the consolation bracket. 

Edmonds Woodway eked past Ferndale, but were then ousted by Stanwood. Shorewood was expelled by Snohomish, but rebounded past Meadowdale. Edmonds Woodway came out with a defensive 4-4-2, tight back four in the defensive line, switching to a 4-3-3 in attack. 

Stormrays had their usual 3-4-3, hoping to dominate the midfield, and spring their attacking trident. Both teams started tentatively, probing and prodding, with disciplined defending, playing not to lose. 

Predictably, the midfield congestion stopped any free-flowing forward movement, as both teams were equally adept at repelling any attacks. Warriors were content to gain territory by attrition, and as the first half wore on, they had the territorial advantage in the upper third, with ball control and precision passing. 

They came closest to scoring, with one shot clanging off the crossbar, dropping kindly for keeper #0 to gratefully smother, with two Warriors lurking. In another incisive thrust, a Warrior striker was clean through but her stinging shot was straight at the keeper who was its equal to snuff it out. 

The first half ended at 0-0, both sides content to play cautiously, minimizing risk, as qualification for State was so tantalizingly close. The Stormrays came out in the second half on the front foot, instead of the midfield block, switched to a hard midfield press. This seemed to befuddle the Warriors as their passes went astray, with distinct loss of cohesion. 

Shorewood was able to wrest possession and attack with fast-breaking balls down the wings and lobbing balls into the box. Once such lob caused havoc in the six-yard box, the keeper unable to corral it in the scrum, until the ref blows the ball dead. 

Superfan Jacob demonstrates his goal celebration!

Edmonds Woodway had a few counters of their own, only to be denied by rangy, athletic keeper #0, aided by a desperate goalmouth clearance. Back and forth it went, but both teams were profligate with their shots. It seemed like only a play of outrageous skill or an egregious error would break the deadlock. The match ends tied 0-0, ushering in the golden-goal overtime, which comes and goes without a score, both defenses holding fast. 

Here was the ending that nobody wanted, the dreaded ordeal of penalty kicks. Peeking through fingers with bated breath, the ritual begins. In the first attempt, both shots are saved, 0-0; the second, EW misses & SW scores, 0-1; the third, EW scores & SW misses, 1-1; the fourth, both score, 2-2; the fifth, both score again, 3-3; the sixth, both score again, 4-4; the seventh, EW misses & SW scores, 4-5; game over. 

It had taken seven rounds, and three saves by keeper #0, without doubt the player of the match. Jubilation ensues for an agonizing victory as the Stormrays advanced out of the elimination playoffs, punched their ticket and qualified for State, by claiming 4th place. 

This outcome could be ascribed to divine providence, or enchanted pixie dust, or magickal metaphysics, it matters not. Shorewood lives on to fight another day! 

At the other elimination playoff match, Snohomish outplayed Ferndale, 3-0, to also qualify for State, by claiming 3rd place. Edmonds Woodway and Ferndale get to play the final elimination playoff match for 5th place and still qualify for State, on Saturday 11/7. 

The District 1 3A final (for 1st/2nd) is Stanwood vs Shorecrest, on Saturday 11/7, both qualify for State, win or lose. With qualification assured, the final should be relaxed and joyous. Whereas the lucky loser match will have more urgency and anxiety as it’s loser-out. 

Both matches will take place at Shoreline Stadium, so this is your chance to still go witness the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat. One particularly enthusiastic fan catches my eye – his name is Jacob, and his sister #3 Haylie plays for Edmonds Woodway. Jacob is 11, describes himself as “nice”, and is confident that the Warriors will win on Saturday. 

--TCA