LC advances to state quarterfinals

Lewis and Clark advanced to the second round of the State 4A soccer playoffs with a 3-0 victory over Pasco Tuesday night at University High.

The win was a product of a game plan that worked to perfection, Tigers coach Casey Curtis said. It sends LC (14-4-1) into the state quarterfinals against Kamiakin.

The Braves eliminated U-Hi 1-0 in double overtime at Lampson Stadium in Kennewick.

LC wanted to keep the ball wide and work from there on offense. On defense, the Tigers hoped to neutralize Pasco midfielder Kaylie Winston with senior standout defender Lexi Greenwood, and forward Shawna Anderson with Megan Bech.

“We knew we could get them wide all night long,” he said. “I thought Lexie was dynamite tonight. Anderson is dangerous, but Megan took care of her.”

Bev Amstadter scored first for the Tigers on a ball that was crossed by Annie Pokorny in front of the goal.

“The ball might have deflected off a defender, I don’t know,” Curtis said. “Bev crashed the net, the ball came free and she poked it in.”

Pokorny, later in the half, slid a shot up the middle through defenders and by the Bulldogs keeper making it 2-0.

“Annie passed the ball to Bev, she got it back and it appeared the goalie was leaning right, and didn’t see it until it got past the defense,” Curtis said.

The third goal, early in the second half, deflated the visitors. Julia Moravec won a foot race with two defenders, booting it home.

“We knew Julie could outrun all their defenders,” Curtis said. “It was not our game plan to play long ball, but they knocked the ball out and Josie Greenwood knocked it back in to her.”

As a result, it led to a second straight postseason shutout by junior goalkeeper Sarah Wood, avenging earlier losses against Columbia Basin Big Nine foes Richland and Pasco.

The victory was a moment to savor for a player who spent the past two seasons on junior varsity.

“I’ve been waiting for this,” Wood said. “To be so successful this season is a great reward.”

At Kennewick, the Titans (12-6) and Braves battled to a scoreless tie until 2 minutes into the second overtime. Shannon Gunion scored on a loose ball in front of the net to end it following a corner kick, its eighth of the night.

•State 2A: Seniors Chelsie Breen and Tanya Baker scored off corner kicks by Nicole Fox in the first half and Cheney (18-1) advanced to the quarterfinals with a 5-0 victory over visiting Prosser.

The Blackhawks, on a 17-match winning streak, are the lone remaining Great Northern League team after West Valley (13-4) gave up a late goal to lose 3-2 at Ellensburg and Pullman (15-4) was beaten 4-1 at East Valley of Yakima.

Breen and Baker scored the first and third goals of a four-goal first half that quickly put the match out of reach.

The Blackhawks host Ellensburg in the second round of state, at 1 p.m. Saturday.

In the other matches, Katelyn Ronning’s goal on a direct kick with 2 minutes left in regulation was the winner for Ellensburg against the Eagles. DeeDee Garbe and Cassie Nelson had WV’s goals. … In Yakima, the Red Devils outworked Pullman’s Greyhounds, who struggled with ball possession and a defense bent on stopping leading scorer Niina Al Hassan.