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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

University girls soccer team ready for districts

No more flying under the radar for the University girls soccer team.

Picked to finish sixth in the Greater Spokane League, the Titans finished second and head into district play with confidence and momentum on their side.

“We’re in a good place right now,” said fifth-year coach Megan Perkins, who meant that in more ways than one.

Before the season began, GSL coaches voted to give themselves the choice of fields for district. So, instead of a trek to Spokane Falls Community College – “That’s a long trip for our fans,” Perkins said – the Titans will host Ferris on Thursday at 5 p.m.

For the 4A schools, district opens Tuesday night, when fifth-seeded Mead visits No. 4 Central Valley in a loser-out match; the winner visits GSL regular-season champ Gonzaga Prep on Thursday at 5 p.m.

Thursday’s winners qualify directly to next week’s regionals, while the losers will play for the GSL’s third spot at regionals.

Based on recent form, the Titans (7-2 in the GSL, 10-4 overall) look like a good bet to make regionals. They’ve won four straight and have conceded just five goals in nine league matches. Last week, they took a 2-1 win at Ferris that Perkins admits “was a pretty tight match.”

Despite returning just four starters, Perkins said the team is “starting to mesh and buying into everything we’re doing.”

For that, she credits seniors Ryann Rydeen, Gabrielle Orndorff, Kylee Dickinson, Morgan Crosby and Emily Hawley. “They’ve stepped up and made all the younger kids rise to their level,” Perkins said.

3A: As usual, Mt. Spokane is a prohibitive favorite to win district. The Wildcats went 5-4 in the GSL, but swept 3A rivals North Central, Shadle Park and Rogers by a combined score of 14-1.

First up is a loser-out match at Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Albi Stadium, pitting North Central (3-6 GSL, 4-8 overall) against Shadle Park (2-7, 4-11). The winner faces Mt. Spokane on Friday at 6 p.m at SFCC, with both teams advancing to regionals.

2A: District opens on Thursday with a pair of loser-out matches: No. 5 Cheney at No. 2 West Valley and No. 4 Pullman at No. 3 Clarkston. The winners play on Saturday, with the winner of that taking on top-seeded East Valley next week. East Valley and West Valley both went 10-2 in GNL play.