Bullpups meet their match in 1-0 semifinal defeat

If they were fazed, it didn’t show.

The Gonzaga Prep Bullpups marked their first-ever appearance at the State 4A girls soccer semifinals on Friday by displaying the same defensive tenacity against Tacoma’s Stadium High as the Bullpups showed in topping defending champion Richland to advance to the Final Four.

But if defense is the Bullpups’ forte, they found their equal in the Tigers, who were playing in their first state semis since 1999. The Tigers (18-4-0) needed only Lauren Robertson’s goal off a free kick in the 15th minute past keeper Elise Kuhar-Pitters to defeat the Bullpups 1-0 at chilly Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood.

It was the first regulation win in four games for Stadium.

“It’s disappointing that we didn’t get this win,” said Prep coach Christian Birrer. “But at the same time you’ve got to look at the accomplishments over the season. We won three championships.”

But there won’t be a fourth title this season for the Bullpups (16-2-1), who face Jackson High of Mill Creek for third place today. Stadium plays Bellarmine Prep for the title.

Gonzaga Prep was simply stymied by Stadium’s menacing defense.

“We knew that they would be a really tough defensive team and they really lived up to that bill,” said Birrer.

His counterpart, John Baretta, said it was equally tough going against the packed-in Pups.

“They had five in the back when they started the game,” Baretta said. “They still had five in the back when we started the second half. We couldn’t get the ball to our key players up front. And when we did, we scored.”

Baretta said the Bullpups were forced to change to a 4-3-3 defense to try and develop more scoring opportunities with about 15 minutes left in the game.

The strategy backfired, however, as Stadium controlled the ball down the stretch.

Stadium made sure to shadow all-GSL first-teamer Alex Butler, who wore a different jersey (No. 4) because she lost her regular one, said Birrer.

Butler got in some early looks at the net before Stadium realized who she was.

“I was like, ‘Who is that? She’s too good,” said Baretta. “And then we realized who she was and I made sure we had her good and marked.”

Prep seemingly made it 1-1 in the late minutes of the first half, but the referee waved off the apparent score, saying the ball didn’t cross the goal line.

“The girls still thought it was a goal when we went into halftime,” Birrer said.

It wasn’t the only lost opportunity for the Bullpups.

“We had some really good chances, especially in that first half,” Birrer said. “But as the game wore on I think the pressure mounted. And to Stadium’s credit, they worked really hard in denying our forwards the ball.”

But Stadium didn’t just sit back on defense. Instead, the Tigers took the attack right at the two-time GSL champions. Needing a goal to force overtime, Gonzaga Prep instead found itself on its heels as Stadium milled away the minutes attacking the Bullpups’ zone.

Boys 1A/B

St. George’s continued is postseason charge with its third consecutive shutout, besting Mt. Vernon Christian, 3-0, at Curtis High School in Tacoma to reach today’s 2 p.m. championship game.

The Dragons (12-6-1) will play University Prep at 2 p.m. for the title.

University Prep defeated Friday Harbor 2-1 in Friday’s other semifinal.

Matt Jackson made nine saves in goal to blank Mt. Vernon Christian.

The Dragons’ first score came on an own goal.

Tim Annan sent a cross pass to Davis Vaughn, who booted it in from the top of the 6-yard box to give the Dragons a 2-0 lead.

The Dragons’ final score came when Tad Johnson threaded a pass between two defenders to Adam Lawrence, who knocked it in for a 3-0 lead.

St. George’s is going for its second title in five years.