With the league season kicking off right away after the first week of training in the Mid-Columbia Conference the defending league champion Kamiakin Braves faced a tough situation that they weathered well thanks to the play of INWsn Player of the Week selection Maddie Morgan.
With a non-league contest on the road in Spokane against Gonzaga Prep and a league game the next morning against a Walla Walla side that finished fifth in the league last year, plenty of things could have gone wrong.
Morgan, though, was a force in the Friday evening contest as she answered the Bulldogs each time they scored to take the lead. It took her 13 minutes to answer for the first, but only one for the second and four for the third. The hosts, though, would pull away late for the 5-3 victory as Kamiakin had sights set on the next morning.
Instead of coming out tired as could be expected, the Braves jumped on the Blue Devils quickly on Saturday. After Kaeri Ward goal in the opening minute Maddie Morgan scored her fourth in 24 hours to grab command of the game just six minutes in as they went on to win the opener 3-0.
G - Jocelyn Gross (Pullman, Sr) :: Made eight saves in a 1-1 contest against Shadle Park, getting the victory in a shootout 3-1.
D - Elena Rawlins (Lewis & Clark, So) :: Was especially strong in helping LC keep the shutout in a 2-0 win against Mt Spokane.
M - Erin Ewers (Gonzaga Prep, Fr) :: Scored twice, including the game-winner, in a 5-3 victory over Kamiakin.
M - Kailyn Labrosse (Central Valley, Sr) :: Tallied a hat-trick and had an assist in a 4-0 victory over Curtis and also set up the game-winning tally in the 4-3 victory against Wenatchee.
M - Alexa Oliver (East Valley, Jr) :: Scored the initial go-ahead goal for the Knights and with two minutes left set up her sister Janis for the game-winning tally in a 3-2 win over Ferris.
M - Spencer Seabaugh (Hanford, Jr) :: Scored twice to give the Falcons a three goal lead over league newcomer Hermiston in a 4-1 win.
M - Ashley Tonthat (Richland, So) :: The sophomore was a dominant presence for the Lady Bombers with a pair of goals in a constant attacking presence as well as keeping Pasco at bay defensively in a 4-0 win.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK :: M/F - Maddie Morgan (Kamiakin, Sr) :: Scored the second goal six minutes into a 3-0 win over Walla Walla the morning after recording a hat-trick in a back-and-forth 5-3 loss at Gonzaga Prep in a non-league game.
F - Megan Cardenas (Mead, Jr) :: Scored the opening goal in the Panthers' 2-0 win against Coeur d'Alene and tallied the team's lone goal in a 2-1 loss to Curtis.
F - Carolyn Moravec (Lewis & Clark, Sr) :: Scored both goals in a 2-0 victory against Mt Spokane in a non-league meeting.
F - Megan Robertson (Central Valley, Sr) :: Registered a hat-trick in a thrilling back-and-forth 4-3 victory against Wenatchee.
About HS Best XI - Each week INWsoccernews will release a list of the week’s best performances in the region, recognizing players at schools in the GSL, MCC, GNL and NEA. The list is extremely flexible and has no defined formation, despite featuring 11 players. The list is issued (typically) each Tuesday during the season, and the Player of the Week selection will receive an exclusive button honoring their selection.
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