Rebels with a cause end LC’s title hopes

CAMAS, Wash. – Juanita went head to head with nationally-ranked Lewis and Clark and came out on top.

Montana State University recruit Colin Adams and Greg McKeever scored goals off LC’s backup goalkeeper during a 2-1 win in a State 4A boys soccer semifinal at Doc Harris Stadium.

The Tigers (18-2) lost starting goalkeeper Ben Fairchild to a possible minor concussion in the 11th minute. Fairchild collided heads with a Rebels player while knocking away a shot.

Backup Adam Reynolds played the rest of the way, making four saves but allowing both goals.

Juanita (13-4-4) will play Bellarmine Prep (19-0-2), ranked No. 4 nationally, at 7 tonight for the championship. LC will play for third place at 1 p.m. against Snohomish (16-2-2).

LC coach Kenny Krestian didn’t blame Reynolds for the loss.

“Adam did well,” he said. “He made some good saves. He did what you would hope for in that situation.”

LC scored in the 23rd minute when Matt Harnetiaux scored to the lower left corner from close in. The goal, his eighth of the season, was assisted by freshman Stefan Andersson.

After he scored, Harnetiaux ran toward the vocal Juanita crowd and gave the hush sign with his fingers to his lips.

The Rebels tied the match less than 6 minutes later on a straightaway 20-yard free kick by Adams. The goal caused the Juanita crowd to taunt LC with the cheer “Who’s quiet now”.

Krestian argued that the free kick should not have been awarded because LC’s Tim Olson was going up for the ball at the same time as a Rebels player.

Juanita scored the winning goal 8 minutes into the second half. Two LC defenders failed to clear away the ball, which landed at McKeever’s feet. His 12-foot left-to-right shot sailed high into the net.

The Rebels had a goal waved off in the 59th minute for an offsides call.

The Tigers had four good scoring opportunities in the final 13 minutes, including a pair by Greater Spokane League scoring champion C.J. Moe.

But Rebels all-league goalkeeper Jesse Sutherland answered every challenge.

“We just didn’t take our chances,” Krestian said. “We had opportunities and just didn’t take them. That’s why we love and hate this game so much.”

Krestian said Fairchild will be available to play today if his pain subsides.

The match started 2 hours late because the four previous matches went into shootouts.

LC failed in its attempt to qualify for the state championship match for the second time in three years.

Juanita is making its first semifinal appearance.

The Tigers lost for just the sixth time in three years despite outshooting Juanita 18-12 for the match.

The Rebels played a similar style to LC’s quarterfinal opponent, Pasco.

“We ended up taking a lot of shots from 18 to 20 yards because they were laying six or seven guys in the box,” Kretian said.

The physical match featured four yellow cards, including one in the 66th minute by Rebels coach Nate Whitney.

LC’s final attempt to score came with 30 seconds left, but senior Trevor Cross knocked the shot over the top of the crossbar.