Freshmen play key role in Deer Park’s 14-1 girls soccer season

More than any high school sports team in Eastern Washington, the Deer Park girls soccer team has made the most of a fresh start.

What figured to be a rebuilding year has turned out to be anything but for the Stags, whose eight freshmen have played a few levels above their class all season.

The result: a 14-1 record, Northeast A League regular-season and District 7 titles, and a first-round State 1A home match Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. against Naches Valley.

A year ago, the Stags were 6-8.

“The new freshmen have made a big difference,” said coach Sean O’Neal, whose 12th year at Deer Park could be his best.

It doesn’t hurt that the Stags have the highest-scorer in the region in junior forward Riley Martinson, who has 26 goals. An elite-level player who’s played for the Shadow and in the Olympic Development Program, Martinson has been the focal point of an offense that’s scored 70 goals.

Says O’Neal of the league’s Offensive MVP, “She’s a hard-nosed go-getter, a very physical player who gets beat up a lot … but she never stays down.”

“She’s very good, and everybody knows it,” O’Neal said.

So do the Stags’ opponents.

That’s where the freshmen have come in. Midfielder Emmy Moore, forward Jessie Thomas and defender Lily Pierce play for the Spokane Foxes Soccer Academy, so they’re not exactly new to the game.

“It’s easy to see that they’ve played a lot,” O’Neal said.

All have played a major part in the Stags’ success.

Moore, a first-team All-NEA selection with “great field vision,” according to O’Neal, not only leads the region with 16 assists, she also takes all the Stags’ corner kicks.

“Emmy takes care of everything in the midfield,” O’Neal said.

Thomas has quickness on the wing to complement Martinson, and her 13 goals are second only to Martinson in the region; she also has six assists.

Pierce, another All-NEA player, has anchored a defense that’s allowed just 12 goals in 14 matches. She’s also pushed forward and picked up four goals.

The upperclassmen also have contributed. Junior goalkeeper Rowenna Nelson also is an All-NEA pick, and classmate Courtney Stark has eight goals and two assists.

More important, the Stags are on a roll when it matters most, outscoring their last four opponents 12-2. If they get past Naches Valley, they’ll host Connell or Cascade Christian in a quarterfinal game this weekend.

“We’re really excited,” Martinson said.

Freeman also is in the 1A field. The Scotties (11-4), who fell to Deer Park 2-0 in the District 7 title match, are at Cascade of Leavenworth for a Tuesday match that starts at 5:30 p.m.

4A: One thing’s for sure: Gonzaga Prep is mentally ready if a state playoff match comes down to a penalty kick shootout.

The Bullpups (15-2) have endured three of them in their last four matches, winning all of them to secure a first-round home match Tuesday night against Todd Beamer of Federal Way.

“Right now I’m impressed with the defensive effort that our kids are putting out,” said coach Billy Barmes, noting the contributions of keeper Zoe Boleneus and back-line players Ollie Branson, Aeva Schrambach, Mia Padon and Melissa Symmes.

Conscious that G-Prep has scored just two goals in the run of play in its last four matches, Barmes said he expects tighter defenses in the postseason.

“We’re confident that we’ll be in a game as long as it takes,” Barmes said.

Todd Beamer (14-2) is the No. 6 seed out of the South Puget Sound League. The Titans have scored 38 goals this season while giving up 11.

If they win, the Pups will host Wenatchee or Bellarmine Prep in a quarterfinal this weekend.

Also in the 4A field is Ferris, which gets another crack at Chiawana on Tuesday, in Pasco. The winner will travel to Puyallup or West Valley of Yakima in the quarterfinals.

The Saxons, who gave up two late goals in a regional 2-1 loss last week at Chiawana, reached state after a 2-0 win last weekend over University.

Ferris forward Bria Bowton has three goals and an assist in her last four matches.

2A: After a runner-up finish in regionals, Great Northern League champ East Valley (14-3) earned a home match against Prosser. Kickoff is Wednesday at 5 p.m.

The Knights reached state with a 5-0 whipping of Ephrata in a regional match last weekend.

GNL rival Clarkston also reached state. The Bantams are at Ellensburg.

1B/2B boys: St. George’s (13-3) is back in the state field, but will hit the road for a quarterfinal match on Saturday at Prescott. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

The Dragons rolled into state with convincing regional wins over Dayton (13-0) and Northwest Christian (6-0).