Panthers ousts previously unbeaten Bombers

RICHLAND – One week ago, the Richland girls soccer team scored a 1-0 shootout win over Mead for the purpose of State 4A tournament seeding. But the Panthers turned the tables on the Bombers in Saturday’s rematch in a State 4A quarterfinal tilt.

Mead posted a 3-2 shootout win after a 2-2 score in regulation to end the Bombers’ season.

Kati Lucas scored the game-tying goal for Richland off an assist from Rachael Lowe with 5 minutes left to force overtime, but the Bombers (19-1) made just two of six spot kicks in the shootout to open the door for Mead.

“Shootouts have a funny way of turning on you,” said Richland coach Chris Smith of what seemed like an ideal opportunity to advance to what would have been the Bombers’ fourth 4A semifinal in five years.

But Mead (14-2-2), which advances to its first 4A semi since 2001, had other ideas.

“I’m so proud of this team. We’ve fought through adversity and battled one setback after another,” said Panthers coach Jason Johnson, earning his first trip to the 4A semis. “It was a matter of pressure. We were in the locker room at halftime and we all looked at each other and just erupted. We’ve been down before, and we’ve always come back.”

Bombers goalkeeper Jamie Arthurs stopped two of the Panthers’ first three shots and another went wide left, giving Richland a 1-0 edge after three rounds. Arthurs has had success in past shootouts, going 4-1 in the postseason dating back to 2004 coming into the contest. But Mead keeper Makenzie Swift stopped shots by Arthurs and Lindsay Roberts to give her team some breathing room.

The Panthers, meanwhile, connected on their final three kicks and celebrated after Jen Lackey rang the Bombers’ final attempt off the right post to end the game.

“I don’t even know what to say,” said Swift, who is 4-1 in shootouts this year. “It felt great to come back and give them a taste of their own medicine.”

Marissa Mykines tied the game at 1 in the 50th minute, dribbling down the right side and driving a shot past Arthurs to the near post.

“That was just a great individual effort, but we missed three or four tackles and let her get to the baseline,” Smith said. “For large stretches they were beating us to the ball. They took it too us at midfield.”

Arthurs, a first-team all-Columbia Basin League selection, then made an uncharacteristic error in judgment on the Panthers’ second goal – a 35-yard free kick from the right side that sailed over her head and inside the far post.

“I was a little off today,” said Arthurs, one of 10 juniors and 18 underclassmen on the Bombers’ roster. “It’s a sucky time to have that. When you make a mistake in goal it’s really obvious.

“When you’re up 3-0 in the shootout, you think you’ve got it good, but everybody has to make their shots. I missed mine.”

Despite scoring the game-tying goal, Lucas put most of the blame on her shoulders. “I was in the wrong position for both (Mead) goals. It wasn’t Jamie’s fault,” said Lucas. “All I could think of was I had to redeem myself for letting two goals in.”

Smith said his team’s reaction was understandable considering its goal of a state title.

“If you want to achieve great things, you have to set your sights high,” said Smith.