Set play caters to Prep’s win

Gonzaga Prep took what it calls an “Edu-Catered” guess on its one good scoring opportunity against unbeaten Ferris and made good.

The Bullpups (7-1, 5-1, 16 points) scored 25 minutes into the second half of the Greater Spokane League girls soccer showdown for a 1-0 victory Wednesday, dropping the visiting Saxons (5-2, 5-1) from first place into third.

It came down to one play, a corner kick called the Edu-Cater, a tribute to its originator, Ben Cater, the former Lewis and Clark standout and G-Prep boys assistant a decade ago.

Caitlin Davis took the kick and several Bullpups lined up on the goal line, ran out to the 6-yard line and raced back in. Her ball was perfectly directed and Tara Cronin got a head on it in front of the goal to drive it home.

Ferris (15 points) is just two points behind unbeaten University and a point behind G-Prep in the taut race.

“In my opinion, it’s still a six-horse race,” said Bullpups coach Christian Birrer. “There are some very good teams. Any one of us loses and they’re back in the hunt.”

Which made G-Prep’s three-point triumph all the more important.

“Their goalkeeper (Elizabeth Boyden), in my opinion, is absolutely phenomenal,” said Birrer. “She’s just so good at coming out on crosses and making her saves. I decided to put some people in the goal box and make it crowded. That’s where accidents happen.”

In a match as intense and even as this one between two young teams (with only six seniors between them), it took such an event to determine the outcome.

Most of the match was played in the middle of the field. The teams took an equal number of shots and goalkeepers Boyden and Elise Kuhar-Pitters had an identical number of saves.

But none of the attempts was serious. Each team took its turns at thrust and parry throughout until the Davis-to-Cronin connection.

“I kick it right on the ‘6’ and someone tries to get a part of her body on it,” said Davis. “We (she and Cronin) have a thing beforehand and I tell her, ‘If I hit you, you gotta score.’ I hit her and she scored. We made a promise and she can’t break it.”

Cronin said that all she was thinking about was putting it into the back of the net.

“It was like a perfect kick from Caitlin,” Cronin said. “I went at it with all my might and it went into the back of the net.”

“It was just anybody’s game and came down to that little piece of luck,” said Birrer.

Five 4-2 teams are lurking behind U-Hi, G-Prep and Ferris.

Elsewhere, Tonya Schnibbe did her part to keep U-Hi’s undefeated record intact by scoring a hat trick and adding an assist in a 6-0 win at West Valley. Michelle Nichols tallied a goal and an assist for the Titans (8-0, 6-0) and Missy Carey made 19 saves for the Eagles (3-5, 1-5). … Chelsea Mykines scored once and had an assist in Mead’s 4-1 home win over East Valley (5-3, 4-2). Marissa Mykines, Jaimey Etten and Kylee Williamson also contributed with goals for the Panthers (6-2, 4-2). … Kendra Reynolds’ second-half goal proved to be the difference in Cheney’s 2-1 win at North Central. The Indians (2-6, 1-5) took a 1-0 lead heading into the second half, thanks to Maggie Capwell’s breakaway goal at the 38-minute mark, but the Blackhawks (4-4, 2-4) tied the game with an own goal. … Jessica Willard scored once and had two assists in the second half to help Central Valley pull away in a 7-0 win at Rogers. Abbie Corigliano, Jaymie Balcom, Annie Weisbeck, and Justine Bowman also had multiple-point games for the Bears (4-4-1, 4-2). The Pirates (0-7, 0-6) received 18 saves from Rikeya Crossley in the loss. … Jen Schwartz stymied the final two opposing shooters and Katija Margitich scored the final goal in a shootout to clinch Shadle Park’s 2-1 home win over Lewis and Clark. Ali Fenter scored in the shootout and also cashed in on a header 10 minutes into the contest to give the Highlanders (6-2, 4-2) the early lead. One minute later, Janet Hong answered with a goal for the Tigers (3-6, 2-4) to tie the game. Shadle also received shootout goals from Brittney Bolding and Jessie Bolle. … Mt. Spokane scored three times in the first 12 minutes and never looked back in a 5-0 home win over Clarkston (0-9, 0-6). Amanda Mollison scored twice and Brittany Bronson and Chelsi Rife both had a pair of assists to lead the charge for the Wildcats (5-2, 4-2).