Bushey gives Mead OT victory
Midfielder Cameron Bushey’s goal brought a sudden end to Mead’s Greater Spokane League overtimme soccer win at Lewis and Clark on Monday.
Bushey knifed a left-footed volley kick over the top of Tigers goal keeper Evan Reed for the 3-2 win. It kept the seat-of-your-pants Panthers unbeaten with their second thriller in the wide-open GSL.
“We’re trying to make it a little more exciting for the spectators,” quipped coach Matt Stueckle, adding his blood pressure didn’t need to raise any higher.
Mead (2-0 and fourth in the league with five points) opened the season with a shootout victory over Mead.
The Panthers trailed LC 1-0 following a first-half defensive effort Stueckle called listless.
Tigers freshman Jack Gilles bent a shot across the goal from left to right where his senior brother Forrest powered home the score at 15 minutes.
“We weren’t applying pressure and it allowed them to do what they wanted,” said Stueckle. “We weren’t able to counterattack like we did in the second half.”
That was when Andy Stulc put the Panthers ahead with goals nine minutes apart. His first came off a set of quick passes, one a cross from Ian Matson to Chris Windham to Stulc for a boomer back to the other side of the net.
“I was just going for it and felt it hit off my leg,” said Stulc.
His second came after a free kick popped loose from Reed and Stulc kicked it home almost from right out of his hands.
But Forrest Gilles beat the defense, took on charging keeper Jason Gass and pooched the ball high over the top. It bounded into the net with eight minutes left.
Three minutes into overtime Bushey made the sideways shot into the goal to bring a sudden end to the match.
Elsewhere, first-place tri-leader Central Valley (2-0, six points) blanked Mt. Spokane (0-2) at home 4-0, including two goals by Josh Antles. … Cheney (2-0) tied CV for first by scoring six second-half goals at home in a 7-0 whitewash of Shadle Park (1-1). Jesse Gibb and Devin Merrill each scored twice. The Blackhawks have 31 goals in five matches. … University (1-1) got scores from six different players in a 7-0 win at Clarkston (0-1). Keith Realing scored two goals and two assists. … Ferris (1-1) won 6-1 at West Valley (0-2) behind Taylor Yonago‘s hat trick and two assists from Trevor Crain. … Ryan Matern and Matt Stockinger each scored twice as visiting North Central (1-0) beat Rogers (0-2) 4-2 and remained unbeaten overall. Admir Rasic had both Pirates goals. … Cole Abramson scored four goals in East Valley’s 6-1 victory at Gonzaga Prep (0-2). The Knights (2-0) are one of three first-place teams.
Softball
University (1-0) blew a 6-1 lead when host Mead (1-1) scored five runs with two outs in the sixth, but rallied to win 8-6 on Tonya Schnibbe’s double, her third hit of the game, and Ashley Fargher’s sacrifice fly. Titans pitcher Mandy Mikelson struck out nine and had three hits. Erin Norris hit a two-run triple and scored in Mead’s sixth. … Cheney’s Jesse Labish hit a two-run triple in the decisive four-run first inning as the Blackhawks (1-1) cruised to a 14-3 win at Ferris (0-2) in six innings. Labish went 3-for 3. Carly Ellis had a two-run double for Ferris.