Richland’s goalkeepers seal off G-Prep

RICHLAND – Ruth and Gehrig.

Montana and Rice.

Stockton and Malone.

It’s a little too early to add Landon and Arthurs to such an elite list of sports duos, but after Richland’s 1-0 shootout win over Gonzaga Prep in Saturday’s State 4A quarterfinal at Bomber Field, the goalkeeping tandem has secured its spot in Bombers soccer lore.

Lyndsee Landon, the Bombers’ starting keeper, increased her scoreless streak to 620 minutes, and Jamie Arthurs, the shootout keeper, made two saves and scored a goal in the 4-3 shootout as Richland earned its third trip to the 4A semifinals in four years.

The Bombers (17-0) will play Lake Stevens (15-3) at 8 p.m. Friday at Harry E. Lang Stadium in Lakewood.

“Our two goalkeepers bailed us out again. It’s uncanny how that goes,” said Richland coach Chris Smith, who will make his fifth trip to the final four in 11 years with the Bombers. “We made our defense work too hard today. We didn’t work as hard on transition as we could have, and our wing play wasn’t as strong. Gonzaga Prep exposed some of our weaknesses.”

The Bombers reversed their fortunes of 2004, which saw the Bullpups record a 1-0 shootout win in the state quarterfinal. Richland also recorded a 1-0 shootout win over G-Prep (15-4) in the 4A Eastern Regional two weeks ago.

“We were much more competitive than we were last year, and I think the opposite happened,” said G-Prep coach Christian Birrer, who noted that there have been no goals scored in the last three matchups between the two teams.

“Give a lot of credit to Richland. This is turning out to be a nice rivalry.”

Landon made four saves, and she came off her line to stop three Bullpups scoring opportunities in the second half. Landon thwarted two breakaways by G-Prep midfielder Megan Lindsay and pressured Sarah Dean into a high shot from close range.

“That’s one thing I like to do – I love taking out people,” said the 5-11 Landon. “I’m more of a one-on-one type of keeper, and Jamie is more the diving type. It’s an instinct. When I see my defender is beat, that’s when I come off my line.”

Both teams had limited opportunities to score, but Lindsay gave G-Prep its best chance in the 71st minute, angling a shot from the left wing over Landon and off the crossbar. The Bullpups outshot Richland 12-6.

Richland had its best chance to score early in the second half, after a free kick from Lindsay Roberts bounced to Kati Lucas, who fired hard at the Bullpups net but into the hands of Elise Kuhars-Pitters.

But after the whistle signaled the end of regulation, it was Arthurs’ time to shine, saving G-Prep’s first attempt by Caitlin Davis and then turning around to nail the Bombers’ first attempt.

“It’s a lot harder to shoot ‘em than to be in goal for them,” she said. “But if I shoot and miss, I know how many saves I have to make.”

Arthurs also played the first 70 minutes of the game at forward, but she credited Landon with getting Richland through regulation.

“I wouldn’t have been out there if she hadn’t made so many saves,” Arthurs said. “She’s pretty much my hero. I look up to her so much. She’s such a good role model.”

Smith is no stranger to the trip out west, but, despite a perfect record and a No. 5 ranking in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Region VI poll, he doesn’t think the Bombers will be a favorite in Lakewood.

“In Eastern Washington we never get looked at as the favorite,” Smith said. “That’s fine with us.”