Mead girls in state semifinal

The young Mead girls soccer team exceeded second-year coach Steve Snider’s preseason expectations. He discussed that by phone Thursday as the Panthers began their bus trip to the State 4A semifinals in Tacoma.

“We expected to be a good, solid team this year,” Snider said. “I thought we’d be better than people expected, but didn’t know where we’d be, exactly.”

The 18-1 Panthers, a team composed primarily of juniors and sophomores, play Skyline (13-2-2) tonight at 8 at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood, south of Tacoma.

The Spartans’ matches were mainly low scoring. They scored more than two goals three times this season and were involved in nine shutouts, including 1-0 last week over 11-time top-four placer and five-time champion Bellarmine Prep.

This is Skyline’s sixth state appearance and fourth time in the final four, the others coming as a 3A school. Scoring leaders are Kiara Williams, with eight goals and seven assists, Coral Anderson (six and three) and Emily Anderson (four and two).

“I don’t know much about them at all,” Snider said. “As far as we’re concerned, we feel at this point everyone we see is going to be a great team.”

Mead’s only loss this year was to district rival Mt. Spokane. The Panthers beat major 4A challengers Gonzaga Prep twice and Lewis and Clark, then topped Southridge, Kamiak and Pasco in postseason to reach today’s semifinals.

Sophomore Mikayla Anderson (13 goals) and junior Jill Pecka (10 goals, six assists) lead Mead in scoring. Playoff efforts by Lauren Layton, who scored twice; junior Morgan Fryman, with two goals and three assists; and junior Breanne Taylor, who also had two goals, helped the Panthers play on.

“One of the real keys was we had great leadership from the older players, and the seniors (Layton, keeper Kelsey Terris and midfielder Olivia Eldridge) were in the mix,” Snider said.

He said that Mead was consistent all year and had chemistry playing defense with a high-pressure, disruptive style and with a fast-paced, ball-possession offense.

“The girls played hard and played big in big moments,” he said. “It kind of transitioned into a great season.”

State 2B/1B

St. George’s returns to the state semifinals at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner, hoping to improve on last year’s third-place finish.

The Dragons (15-3-1) face Riverside Christian (12-6), a team they defeated twice this year, today at 4 p.m. Karl Muelheims and Grant Evans lead St. George’s in scoring this year.