Spokane Shine, independent Montana Flathead Rapids play to 2-2 draw in friendly

The Shine in their new white kits make debut at Spokane Falls CC against MFR | Photos: Gerald Barnhart - gallery

The Spokane Shine took to the field under new coach Dan Philp for the first time Tuesday evening at Spokane Falls CC and played to a 2-2 draw with visiting Montana Flathead Rapids just over a week after first coming together at tryout sessions. Midfielder Jaimey Etten proved to be the star of the night with a goal and an assist.

Etten (11) celebrates with Jami Hegg

"It was a good performance for the most part - created a lot of chances, which is good to see," said Philp after the game. "I think once we begin to click, we'll be a good team. Defensively it was a bit shaky with a couple sloppy balls out of the back, didn't deal with some of the long balls that well. So we got some stuff to work on, but it's encouraging."

The Shine came out as the more aggressive side and enjoyed the majority of possession for the first 10 minutes with several opportunities in comparison to the visitor's one attempt on goal. The persistence paid off in the 13th minute when returning Shine midfielder Whitney Wood took the ball up the right and delivered it inside to Etten, who quickly turned outside the box and lofted the ball over the reach of University of Montana standout keeper Kristen Hoon into the upper right corner.

A corner in the 21st minute changed the complexion of the match as the ball in from Maja Pederson found an open Natalie Gayner inside the outer corner of the six on the near side. Gayner had plenty of time to take a touch and slip the ball inside the post to pull the Flathead Rapids even.

Natalie Gayner celebrates equalizer

"We were happy with the two goals but I think the Shine had the majority of the possession and controlled the majority of the game," said head coach O'Brien Byrd. "I think we started to figure it out in the second half. Things started to click a little bit more and players started to be a bit more comfortable."

From that point, possession evened out for both sides for the remainder of the half as the play became more back-and-forth.

Two minutes later, though, Spokane nearly reclaimed the lead, but Brittney Conway missed an open chance at the edge of the six when her first-time effort on an incoming bouncing ball curled wide.

With 11 minutes left in the first half Montana had the final good look of the period when a cross in from the left flank was brought down by a Shine defender, but fell to a wide open McKensie Kizer, who fired from just inside the box only to see Whittni Mundel make the relatively easy stop to keep things even at the break with MFR, an independent amateur women's team comprised of players throughout the state.

"With our special group of players, we come from multiple areas of Montana so we don't get to train on a weekly basis together," said Byrd. "We meet up and play in exhibitions and tournaments and so playing against a well-organized team it showed tonight. Another thing is, we don't play on turf out in Montana so there was some getting used to that stuff too.

"Definitely some of our stronger, more experienced players - especially Lauren Costa at center back, just vital in organizing us, was a big, big physical presence," Byrd said of his University of Montana contingent. "And Ruth Frame in the middle played our holding center mid and playmaker was probably our MVP tonight."

The second half gradually returned to the control of Spokane and saw Kara Marbury begin to shine. Nine minutes into the half she received the ball at the penalty arc and launched a well-paced effort at the right post that went narrowly wide.

Kara Marbury

A little over two minutes later a nice combination of play saw the Shine work the ball up out of midfield to the right side and back across the middle eventually to Conway on the left side, but her attempt was for naught.

In the 59th minute Marbury took the ball to the right end line and sent the ball across the six to Conway for another effort that missed the mark.

And despite all the near chances for the Shine, there were arguably just as many missed opportunities as players misread one another having only spent a week together, and less for some.

"Once they get used to each other - we had a few girls out here that hadn't been with the team yet - so once they get used to playing and stuff, a couple games into the season, we'll be good," said Philp.

Marbury finally broke through on a fantastic effort in the 69th minute of play when a ball played long out of the midfield from Etten put Marbury streaking behind the defense from about 35 yards out. She drove toward the box and unleashed a well-driven ball into the far side netting from just inside the right side of the box.

Chelsea Shuman

The lead was short-lived, however, as the Montana side answered right back about two minute later when the ball came to Chelsea Shuman, who fired uncontested from about 12 yards out on the left side of the box, slipping it in under the bar out of Mundel's reach in the center of goal.

"We definitely struggled a little bit when we lost the ball, just them counter-attacking on us," Philp said of the close-range open opportunities the Rapids had. "They left three up high and every time we lost it they would hit a long ball in behind us and we struggled to deal with that a little bit. They were pretty big and athletic, probably something else we are gonna have to deal with through the season. If we can work on that in training Thursday and then hopefully fix it for Saturday's game."

With about 12 minutes remaining the Shine thought they had another great individual effort for the winner when a ball from left midfield up the middle allowed Paige Galloway to work through two defenders. They recovered quickly, however, forcing Galloway to cut twice in succession to beat them both again deep inside the box before shooting unsuccessfully with her left foot.

As for what is next, the Shine play host to the Westside Timbers, a club out of Beaverton that previously played in the league in 2009 prior to the creation of the division and are making a return in 2013.

"Gonna mix up the lineup a little bit. We have Julia Moravec coming back into town. She already helps as a target forward, gives us another option," said Philp about his plans heading into Saturday. "Felt sometimes we were just going forward 100 miles an hour a bit. It would be nice to kinda hold it up, let some players in - you know, just trying to find the right balance. I think once we get that, we'll be good."

For Montana Flathead Rapids, in the short-term it is back into virtual anonymity due mostly to geography. In the long-term, however, Tuesday night's meeting with the Shine may not be the last, and future fixtures could be in an official capacity.

"Yeah, we have been thinking about WPSL for a few years now and it's something we are flirting with," Byrd said. "Games like this against a WPSL team, a decent one, is encouraging for us and seeing signs like that is good for us. I gotta talk a little bit with Linda Davis, the owner of the Shine, and get some feedback from her to see what it's like to be an 'inland' northwest team and the business side of things. But yeah, we are definitely interested in the league.

Scoring Summary
SPO: Jaimie Etten (Whitney Wood) 13
MON: Natalie Gayner (Maja Pederson) 21
SPO: Kara Marbury (Jaimie Eten) 69
MON: Chelsea Shuman (Jelisa Guy) 71

Rosters

Spokane: Whittni Mundel, Allison Jordan, Lisa Clausen, Chelsie Breen, Kendra Morscheck; Laci Ranneker, Kara Marbury, Jami Hegg, Brittney Conway, Whitney Wood, Jaimey Etten, Paige Galloway, Kenna Simon, Karlee  Goehner, Alyssa Lloyd, Jaymie Balcom, Hailie McClure, Riley Richardson, Kourtney Wick

Montana FR: Kristen Hoon (U of Montana), Jelisa Guy (U of Colorado-Colorado Springs), Sam Dittman (U of Puget Sound), Grace McKoy (U of Montana), Lauren Costa (U of Montana), McKenzie Kiser (New Mexico Highlands U), Maja Pederson (Pacific Luthern U), Kim Pearce (North Idaho College), Meagan Powell (Westminster College), Ruth Frame, Anna Deleray (Colorado School of Mines), Natalie Gayner (Milwaukee School of Engineering), Chelsea Shuman (MSU-Billings), Chantel Gustine (Pacific U), Kendall Haliburton (Glacier HS)

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