Ferris, Mead Knock Out Big Nine Gsl Soccer Rivals To Square Off Saturday In Quarterfinals

The Ferris-Mead soccer rivalry has been revived.

The two Greater Spokane League girls squads knocked the Big Nine Conference out of the state 4A playoffs Saturday, with Ferris beating visiting Kamiakin 2-0 and Mead winning 2-1 at previously undefeated Richland.

The quarterfinals will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Albi Stadium.

“We’ve had this rivalry with Mead, and every time we play them it’s kind of for blood,” said Ferris forward Megan Cummings. “We beat them last time, so they’re going to be out to kill us this time, but we’re going to want to kill them. So, it’s going to be a good game.”

“I know they’re going to be up and want to come back and get us,” said Ferris coach Robin Crain. “We’ll just have to work hard all week to prepare.”

Mead swept Ferris in two regular-season meetings, but then the Saxons knocked the Panthers from the unbeaten ranks, winning 1-0 to take the District 8-4A title.

In first-round play Saturday, Ferris got on the board early when Cummings’ kick sailed over Kamiakin goalkeeper Kelly Matheson’s head, hitting the bottom of the crossbar and bouncing into the goal at the 7-minute mark.

The score went to 2-0 at the 21-minute mark when Karie Pruett scored off a corner kick by Cummings.

“I think it was really important,” said Crain of opening an early lead, “especially because of the wind. We got two goals with the wind and then we had to defend in the second half against the wind.”

The wind and the cold kept both teams sluggish, said Crain.

The second half was highlighted by the play of Ferris goalkeeper Jessica Froelich. With Ferris on defense much of the time, Froelich racked up six saves in the half.

“It always seemed as if she was in the right place at the right time,” said Crain.

Ferris narrowly missed a few chances to open the lead even more in the second half. Matheson popped the ball over the net to deny Ferris 25 minutes into the half.

Ferris came close a few minutes later when a penalty kick cleared the net.

“I think Richland and Kamiakin wore themselves out Tuesday,” said Chris Erikson, Kamiakin’s coach, of Richland’s 1-0 shootout victory over her team. “The game between Mead and Ferris was nothing like our game. Our game was a barn-burner.”

Mead 2, Richland 1

Mead’s scoring came from the Drollinger sisters, as Lindsay and Stacey scored goals to help the Panthers upend Richland.

Mead goalkeeper Allie Bailey ended Richland’s bid to tie the game late in the second half when she smothered the ball, taking away Marie Caldwell’s chance to shoot.

East Valley 2, Hanford 1

East Valley moves on to the 3A quarterfinals and will host West Valley of Yakima on Saturday after a shootout victory.

East Valley found itself behind early when Wendy Young scored six minutes into the game. Shut out until the 74-minute mark, Heather Lock scored for the Knights after the goalie mishandled a pass from Kristin Carlson.

Tammy Hill, Anette Thomas, Elisha Stickel and Jessica Bowen all scored for East Valley in the shootout, which the Knights won 4-2.

Riverside 5, Pullman 0

Riverside advances to the 2A district playoffs after beating Pullman for the Great Northern League championships. Riverside improved its record to 16-0 and will host East Valley of Yakima on Saturday.

Bernice Stime scored two goals in the first half and Brooke Dornquast added two in the second half.

, DataTimes