Vanwert May Get Busy This Weekend

Soccer

Unlike the Maytag repairman, Holly Vanwert can escape the lonely life.

Mead’s seldom-tested soccer goalkeeper is also the best fastpitch softball pitcher in the Greater Spokane League.

The irony is that Vanwert has had more success and less recognition in soccer.

Vanwert was the keeper when the Panthers won the State AAA soccer championship two years ago and she’ll be in goal Friday night when the Panthers (20-0) face Shorecrest (19-0) in the semifinals at Shoreline Stadium in Seattle.

Not bad for someone who has never been and never will be all-GSL in soccer.

“As long as my family and team know they can trust me back there, I don’t need recognition,” Vanwert said. “Besides, it’s really hard to judge keepers.”

Vanwert’s problem is the same as the rest of the GSL. Mead’s defense is so good she gets little action and the Panthers’ offense is so good she gets pounded, even though it is only in practice.

“Holly’s had a real thankless job in our program,” Mead coach Dick Cullen said. “Most of the time she stands around and waits for something to happen. In practice we put her in critical situations. We put her under pressure where she gets tons and tons of shot. She takes penalty shots every day.”

Fortunately for the Panthers, Vanwert has never been caught napping during a game.

“I try to keep my head in the game,” she said. “I talk to the defenders. I try to yell at everyone but they don’t hear me. I’m happy with keeper, I guess. I seem to play the most stressful positions, like pitcher. I like (stress). Why, I don’t know. That’s a good question. I like the intensity.”

Like many good, young soccer players, Vanwert, a midfielder and striker, had a little experience in goal coming into the Mead program. Her problem is she let that slip to the coaches.

“She mentioned she played keeper and we liked what we saw,” Cullen said. “We saw that athletic ability and the good hands from her softball and basketball days. And, she’s a tough kid. We saw that right away.”

Vanwert only played in two league matches as a sophomore, replacing an injured teammate. Then she won the job outright before the state tournament.

“I guess I’ll be a little more relaxed than I was as a sophomore,” Vanwert said. “It’s going to be exciting. I’m going to be ready to play. Turf doesn’t mean anything to me. (Experience) helps a little bit but not much. There’s so many people, it’s gigantic and anything can happen on turf.”

Knowing that the season is going to end with either an incredible high or the low of giving up the goal that ends the season run doesn’t faze Vanwert.

“As long as we play well … I’ll be happy … it doesn’t matter,” she said. “But I don’t like to lose.”

Though the Panthers have allowed just three goals in 20 games, Cullen is sure Vanwert will be ready when the Panthers are tested.

“Even though she hasn’t had a great deal of action, I feel confident she’ll be ready for anything she’ll see,” Cullen said. “She’s really been paying the price to help us get this far.”

Shorecrest has won four state titles since 1982: Class AAA in 1983 and Class AA in ‘85, ‘92 and ‘93. The Scots returned to Class AAA this year after losing just one full-time starter from last year’s team that lost to eventual AA champion Kennedy in the quarterfinals.

Defending champion Bellarmine Prep, 19-0 and ranked No. 3 in the country, takes on Columbia River, 18-0, in the other semifinal. BP beat Kamiakin 1-0 for the title last year.

Boys A/B semis

Also at Shoreline Stadium, Northwest Christian of Spokane (13-1-1), the lone Class B team in the field, plays a noon match against Seattle Christian (16-0) Friday. The winner advances to Saturday’s title match against either Bellevue Christian (17-1) or Lynden Christian (13-3-1).

“I told my players, ‘Somebody has to win it. It might as well be us,”’ said NWC second-year coach Ray Underwood. “We seem to play our best against the best teams.”

Underwood called Bellevue Christian the favorite. NWC, which made the semis four years ago, is counting on a strong performance from Nathan Thompson.

“I’ve told him this year that he’s gone from being a goalie to a keeper,” Underwood said. “That’s quite a compliment.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo