Layton comes in handy
It’s not often hands are an asset on a soccer field.
Lauren Layton put hers to good use Wednesday night, launching a throw-in to set up Angie Hughes’ game-winning goal in the 76th minute in Mead’s 2-1, come-from-behind victory over Gonzaga Prep in the District 8 4A girls tournament title match at Joe Albi Stadium.
The Greater Spokane League’s regular-season champions, the Panthers (14-1) scored twice in the final 11 minutes to stun runner-up G-Prep (10-3-1) and earn an automatic berth at state. Mead won’t suit up again until Nov. 3, when it hosts a game against the Columbia Basin League champion to determine the region’s No. 1 seed to state.
The Bullpups, meanwhile, must host Shadle Park at 7 p.m. Tuesday, and the winner will gain the GSL’s second seed at regionals. Shadle (10-4) defeated Lewis and Clark 2-1 at Albi earlier in the night.
The Panthers exacted revenge against G-Prep, which rallied to win 3-2 in the teams’ previous matchup on Sept. 28. Hughes, who also assisted on Marissa Mykines’ goal that tied the game with 11 minutes left in the second half, sat out the first contest while recovering from a back injury.
“Watching (Mead) lose that game made me really want to” (avenge the loss), said Hughes, who collected Layton’s throw-in, turned and ripped a shot inside the right post to give Mead the lead with 4 1/2 minutes left.
Layton made a miscue 11 minutes after halftime while defending Bullpups forward Megan Lindsay, the GSL’s leading scorer with 13 goals during the regular season.
Lindsay outmuscled Layton for the ball and fired a shot from the left edge of the 18-yard box. The ball was deflected in front of the goal, and Maddy Scott swooped in and redirected it into the net with a quick flick of her right foot to give the Bullpups a 1-0 lead.
“She’s obviously one of the best offensive players in the GSL,” Layton said of Lindsay. “It sucks when she beats you, but you’ve got to keep going.”
Layton and teammate Jazmine Redmon both possess a natural ability to heave throw-ins a considerable distance. When Mead possesses the ball deep in an opponent’s territory, Layton and Redmon can throw the ball well into the box to teammates near the goal. Mead coach Steve Snider said it’s “like a corner kick.”
Layton joked about simply throwing the ball as far as she can in a general direction, but she’s also aware that being able to strike from the sideline on throw-ins is an advantage. Hughes certainly capitalized on Layton’s throw.
“It’s definitely one of the strongest assets I bring to the game,” she said. “Angie was just able to get on the end of it.”
Earlier, Ali Fenter’s second goal, 4 minutes into the second half, held up in Shadle’s loser-out win over LC. Fenter headed in Kristi Wirtz’s corner kick to snap a 1-all tie. Fenter also scored at 19 minutes, on a direct kick from 25 yards into the upper-left corner. The Tigers (12-6) squared the match with 2 minutes left in the first half, courtesy of Kenzi Grow’s unassisted goal. LC defeated Shadle 1-0 during Greater Spokane League play.