LC tries to rebound as soccer playoffs begin
The Lewis and Clark soccer players have no time to dwell on their hard luck.
On Friday, the Tigers were 30 minutes from claiming a Greater Spokane League title before a late Central Valley rally and an overtime goal dropped them all the way to fourth place in the final standings.
“The loss was excruciating,” LC coach Mica Lamb said. “Not only because it was a golden goal … not only because we held a two-goal lead … but because my kids have been working all season (and offseason) with a GSL title as their goal.”
The Tigers must regroup in a hurry: They face Gonzaga Prep in a loser-out 4A District match Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Spokane Falls Community College. Win that and they’ll get another shot at CV on Thursday at 5:30 p.m., but first things first, Lamb said.
LC (7-2 in the GSL, 12-2 overall) is less than a week removed from a 7-2 win over the Bullpups, but Lamb doesn’t foresee a repeat.
“Gonzaga Prep is a tough opponent tomorrow and we must be ready,” Lamb said. “If we can do that, we get a second chance to win the league, this time at the district tournament.”
The LC-Prep winner will face CV (8-1 GSL, 11-2 overall) in the first match of a Thursday doubleheader that will secure the winner a berth in next week’s regionals. In the second match, at 7:30, No. 2 Mead (7-2, 9-6) will take on No. 3 Ferris (7-2, 9-3).
Ferris beat the Panthers 2-1 in a shootout on March 25.
The winners will play on Saturday for the district title, while the losers square off for the third and final spot at regionals.
3A: North Central (2-12) and Rogers (5-9) play a loser-out match Tuesday at 6 p.m. at SFCC. The winner is guaranteed a spot in regionals and will play top-seeded Mt. Spokane (5-8) for the district title.
The winner of that match will play May 10 against the top seed from the Mid-Columbia Conference for a berth at state.
2A: After finishing a game ahead of the field, Pullman earned the Great Northern League title and home field at district.
In first-round district matches on Thursday, No. 2 East Valley (10-4) will play host to Clarkston (2-13) and West Valley (8-7) plays host to Cheney (8-7). The winners meet Thursday for a chance to play Pullman for the district title on Saturday.
1A: With two matches left, Colville (7-1 in the Great Northern League, 8-1 overall) holds a one-game lead over Newport (6-2, 9-4).