Richland tops G-Prep in shootout

Richland’s getting the hang of this shootout thing.

Its second consecutive such 1-0 soccer victory, decided by penalty kicks, came over Gonzaga Prep to decide Tuesday’s 4A Eastern regional championship.

Until last week, Richland had lost three shootouts dating back to 2001, including 1-0 in last year’s state quarterfinals to G-Prep’s Bullpups.

The victory means that the Bombers (15-0) remain home for the first two rounds of State 4A competition, beginning Saturday against University, a 3-2 shootout winner at Kamiakin in the day’s other playoff.

The Bullpups (14-3) are on the road to begin state play, sometime before next Wednesday.

On a day mainly unfit for man or soccer competition, the weather gods smiled on the 6 p.m. match at G-Prep. The rain had ceased by game time and, after a half, so did gusty winds, making conditions reasonably comfortable.

Neither team scored through 90 minutes of regulation and overtime in the regional final, but the Bombers converted 4 of 5 shootout attempts for the win.

It almost didn’t get that far, acknowledged Richland coach Chris Smith.

“We were fortunate to be in a shootout,” he said. “We had a turnover at the end of regulation and our keeper made a great save.”

Time was running out when the ball came free in front of the net, yet somehow senior goal keeper Lyndsee Landon got there in time to block the shot.

“It’s just reflexes,” said Landon. “I love cutting off deflections and my defense was there to clear it out.”

Not until the Bullpups took a couple of other attempts that were also blocked by Richland defenders.

“From my angle, I thought it was going straight in the back of the net. I thought we had all the time in the world,” said G-Prep coach Christian Birrer.

The game had few scoring opportunities, Birrer added, even though G-Prep had several chances, particularly in the final 10 minutes of regulation.

“It was mostly kind of half-hearted long range stuff for both teams,” said Birrer, “so it was too bad to miss a quality chance like that.”

Landon was a difference-maker in the contest, repeatedly coming way out of goal to smother the ball at the foot of a G-Prep attacker.

“It’s just what I like to do,” said Landon, of the risky play.

She also used her height to make a save on a header by Tara Cronin off a corner kick that Birrer said could have been stopped only by someone 6-feet tall.

Most of G-Prep’s attack, however, was relegated to game’s end. Richland forced the action throughout much of the contest and took twice as many shots on goal, even if it couldn’t finish. One first-half attempt hit the goal crossbar and came straight down in front of the mouth.

When G-Prep attacked, sophomore Lindsay Roberts, directing things from the back, was there to thwart it.

“They have pretty fast forwards and we were just doing our best to clear the ball and get it out of there,” Roberts said.

So it came down to a shootout. G-Prep got an early advantage when Caitlin Davis scored first and keeper Elise Kuhar-Pitters made a stop on Richland’s first attempt.

But shootout specialist Jamie Arthurs, in for Landon, made two successive saves to swing momentum and the Bombers converted their last four shots.

“Richland is a veteran team and used to winning,” said Birrer. “We gave them a good game. I’m proud of the girls for what they did.”

University 3, Kamiakin 2 (SO)

The Titans (17-1) also outscored their opponent 4-3 in the shootout for a fourth straight state appearance.

Alex Marquard and Tonya Schnibbe, making their fourth state trips as well, each scored in the shootout.

Marquard scored 5 minutes into the game, rebounding a Schnibbe attempt that came off the post. Schnibbe broke a 1-all tie at the 28-minute mark on a 25-yard free kick.

Alli Meyer made a clutch shootout save while Katy Sloyer and Hailey Lightfoot added the other penalty kick goals.