Ferris Beats Lc, Goes To State
With 300 spectators braving cold temperatures, Ferris qualified for state in the Just A Kick/Greater Spokane League District soccer tournament Monday, defeating Lewis and Clark 3-1 at Ferris.
Ferris’ next challenge is at Mead at 3 p.m. Wednesday, where the Saxons and Panthers play for seeding into the State AAA playoffs.
Saxons coach John Gould has no special plan for the first-place Panthers, who haven’t lost since 1992.
“We’re just going to stick to our same game plan,” said Gould. “It’s been working for us so far, so we’ll be doing the same things. Mead’s also had a long break.”
The winner earns home-field advantage in the playoffs against Big Nine rivals on Friday while the other heads to the Tri-Cities.
The Saxons started Monday’s game aggressively and kept the ball in LC territory most of the first half. Ferris scored first at 18:00 as defender Kim Rohwer sank a header off a pass from Mariah McConnaughey.
McConnaughey was involved in each of the Saxons’ scores. She had two assists and one goal. Her second assist was to Ferris’ leading scorer, Megan Cummings, whose header put Ferris up 2-0.
The Tigers started the second half playing with more intensity than they did the first, but could not capitalize on penalty kick opportunities.
Ferris weathered the assault and went up 3-0 when Heather Lynn passed the ball to McConnaughey. Her shot hit the goal-post bar and rolled across the top before rolling forward and trickling into the net at the 54:00 mark.
LC’s Megan Mackenzie scored 6 minutes later as the Tigers seemed to gain some momentum. LC had a breakaway situation with its leading scorer, Keri Nichols, one-on-one with goalkeeper Ida Hardin.
But the Ferris senior came up with a key save, one of her 12, to end the threat and LC’s last best chance.
“We had the momentum,” said Gould. “Our defense was our strength. It held tight and didn’t give many opportunities.”
Said LC coach Ardi Khoei, “Ferris is very strong; they capitalized on their opportunities and corner kicks and we failed to do so.”
Volleyball
West Valley will enter the Frontier League playoffs Friday in Clarkston as the No. 3 seed after winning a coin toss with Pullman.
Pullman, whose four-set win over WV on Saturday left the teams with 7-5 records, will play No. 1 Clarkston at 7 p.m. Friday, followed by WV and No. 2 East Valley at 8:30.
Northwest Christian defeated Inchelium 13-15, 15-11, 15-12 to win the Panorama tournament in Springdale and No. 1 seeding to the Northeast District B Tournament beginning Thursday in Springdale.
Laura Hindman led NW Christian with 15 kills and teammate Amy Descateaux had four aces.
Springdale defeated Republic 17-15, 15-4 for No. 3 and 4 seeding.
Republic had eliminated Columbia 15-11, 14-16, 15-8 and Springdale ousted Selkirk 7-15, 15-11, 15-13.