The Walla Walla Blue Devils went into the 4A opening round playoff contest against Mid-Columbia Conference foe Pasco as heavy underdogs with their two wins this season coming against winless Kennewick and dropping both league games to the Bulldogs 2-1 and 3-1. But all of that was thrown out of the window Monday evening when they took the lead twice and held on for a shocking 2-1 victory over the 5-9 Bulldogs to advance to a second round match-up with GSL champion Mead.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the bracket in the Greater Spokane League's matching 4A opener, the Lewis & Clark Tigers were looking to avoid an upset by University, which led their previous league meeting by two before falling 4-2 to the Tigers. LC were up by three early in the second half before seeing the Titans finally finding some success on the offensive end, scoring two in a comeback attempt that also so another effort go off the crossbar and one go narrowly over as they held on for the 3-2 win and a second round meeting with MCC co-champion Hanford.
In the lone 3A opener, the two winless sides Rogers and Kennewick squared off in Tri-Cities with the Lions rolling to an 11-0 victory.
Here's a look around the action from Monday...
4A PLAYOFFS #####
(GSL) University 2-3 Lewis & Clark (GSL): The Tigers and Titans went back-and-forth in the first half that saw LC with a slight edge in possession. It took 21 minutes for the Tigers to break through with Rebekah Reason launching a cross from the right corner that found Carolyn Moravec in the box for a well hit, first-time strike out of the air about 12 yards out. University nearly equalized just a few minutes later when Kelsey Crosby sent a shot off the crossbar.
LC grabbed a commanding three goal advantage early in the second half with back-to-back goals from Reason and Grace Ellis. Reason nodded in a corner from Madelaine Collins that slipped through the outstretched hands of the keeper in the 48th minute and just a minute later Ellis fired a well-placed shot out of the keeper's reach.
But just like nearly every other LC match this season, the Tigers would see a reversal in momentum. In the 59th minute Crosby struck a long ball that found the right post, but the rebound fell to Julia Adair inside the box for the putaway to reduce the gap to two. The Titans continued to fight back and Crosby would see yet another shot go off the crossbar in their efforts. They would finally strike again in the 79th minute when Peyton Bastine fired a long shot that dropped in under the crossbar over the keeper's reach. In stoppage time, another long ball from Adair nearly tied the match as it skimmed narrowly over the bar.
(MCC) Walla Walla 2 :: 1 Pasco (MCC): Lorena Ramirez gave the visiting Blue Devils the initial lead 16 minutes into the contest but the Bulldogs evened things up with six minutes left in the half on a strike from Megan Wilkinson, her seventh goal in league and postseason play. Deadlocked in the second half, the Devils went back in front when Ramirez converted a penalty in the 68th minute for her 11th goal in official play. The defense, which allowed a league-high 64 goals on the season, did the rest, holding off the Bulldogs to earn the upset victory after going winless against everyone in the league except cellar dweller Kennewick.
3A PLAYOFFS #####
(GSL) Rogers 0-11 Kennewick (MCC): In a showdown of two winless sides, the Kennewick Tigers finally experienced a moment of joy and celebration, scoring four more goals in the game than they had tallied through 14 league games this season. Trinity Demand scored three times and Klarissa Barajas and Kirren Gay each had a pair. Reilyn Davis, Zoe Briones, Sydney Cook and Delaney Bills each also scored with Olivia Blank getting her first shutout for the Lions, which gave up 60 goals in league play. They advanced to face North Central in the second round.
STANDINGS & STATS #####
Update available in tomorrow's recap.
COMING UP #####
Tuesday, October 25
NEA 1A Playoffs - Medical Lake @ Lakeside 3:30
NEA 1A Playoffs - Freeman @ Deer Park 3:30
CWAC 2A Playoffs - Grandview @ Ephrata 5:00
CWAC 2A Playoffs - Prosser @ Othello 5:00
CBBN Season - Davis @ Sunnyside 7:00
CBBN Season - Moses Lake @ Eisenhower 7:00
CBBN Season - Eastmont @ Wenatchee 7:00
Wednesday, October 26
GSL/MCC 3A Playoffs - Kennewick @ North Central (Albi) 4:00
GSL/MCC 3A Playoffs - Shadle Park @ Kamiakin (Lampson) 5:00
GSL/MCC 4A Playoffs - Lewis & Clark @ Hanford 5:00
GSL/MCC 4A Playoffs - Richland @ Central Valley (SFCC) 5:30
GSL/MCC 4A Playoffs - Walla Walla @ Mead (Albi) 6:00
GSL/MCC 4A Playoffs - Gonzaga Prep @ Chiawana 6:00
PLAYOFF BRACKETS #####
Missing Data... If you have scoring / goalkeeping information for the following games, please email to gbarnsoccer-at-gmail or message INWsoccernews on Facebook: 9.13 Davis @ Eisenhower... 9.15 Eisenhower @ Wenatchee... 9.20 Eisenhower @ Sunnyside... 9.22 Sunnyside @ Wenatchee... 9.27 West Valley @ Eisenhower (Ike goal)... 9.27 Eastmont @ Sunnyside (GK info)... 9.29 Sunnyside @ Davis... 9.29 Eisenhower @ Moses Lake (Ike info)... 10.4 Eastmont @ Eisenhower (GK info)... 10.11 Wenatchee @ Eisenhower... 10.13 Sunnyside @ Eisenhower... 10.18 Moses Lake @ Davis (Davis goal)... 10.18 Wenatchee @ Sunnyside... 10.20 Eisenhower @ West Valley (GK Info)... 10.20 Moses Lake @ Wenatchee... 10.20 Riverside @ Freeman
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