Gonzaga Prep girls take shootout win over Central Valley

The Gonzaga Prep Bullpups dominated Central Valley for most of a chilly evening before earning a 1-0 shootout win in their 4A District semifinal at Bullpup Stadium.

“It didn’t play out the way I figured, but give CV credit,” said Prep coach Billy Barmes, whose team swept through the Greater Spokane League this year with a 9-0 record but had to endure 90 minutes and a shootout before clinching a spot in next week’s regionals.

Next up: the district title match Saturday at noon against visiting Ferris, which won 2-1 at University. The winner earns a home spot in regionals against a team from the Mid-Columbia Conference, while the loser must travel.

The season isn’t over for two-time defending state champion CV (10-5), which visits U-Hi at noon Saturday in a loser-out match.

Thursday’s match began with all the momentum on the side of G-Prep. The Bullpups (12-2) earned a nice breakaway in the seventh minute that drew freshman goalkeeper A.J. Crooks off her line. However, a sure goal was cleared off the line.

Speedy G-Prep winger Melissa Symmes was denied in the 27th minute by Crooks, who made her best save five minutes later by stopping a point-blank shot from Larkin Russell.

Moments before halftime, G-Prep’s Darby Doyle dribbled down the middle, brushed past three defenders and took a strong shot from 20 yards, but the ball was cleared off the line for a corner kick.

It was more of the same in the second half: Despite being outshot 12-4, CV created some chances of its own on counterattacks. Both defenses tightened up late in regulation and in the two five-minute overtimes, setting the stage for the shootout.

The difference-maker came in the second round of the shootout. With the score tied 1-1, G-Prep keeper Zoe Boleneus dived to her right to save a shot from Erica Casey.

After Mia Padon capped a 5-for-5 effort by the G-Prep shooters, the Bullpups were able to celebrate.

“I’ve been here four years, and this is by far the best we’ve ever done,” said Symmes. “Now we just have to keep it going.”

Ferris 2, University 1: Bria Bowton netted the deciding goal in the 66th minute to give the visiting Saxons the win at University.

Abby Muelheim scored in the 12th minute to give the Saxons an early lead, but U-Hi’s Morgan Crosby struck in the 43rd minute to knot the score at 1.

Ferris outshot U-Hi 18-16.

2A: West Valley and Clarkston advanced to the District 7 semifinals with wins over Cheney and Pullman, respectively.

At West Valley, Franki Schade scored three goals and Jenna Sullens added to to give the Eagles a 9-1 win over the Blackhawks.

The Eagles, who outshot Cheney 24-7, will host Clarkston Saturday at noon. The winner of that match clinches a spot in regionals and will face Great Northern League champion East Valley next week for the district title.

At Clarkston, the Bantams and Greyhounds were scoreless at halftime, but Kaela Southwick broke the stalemate in the 56th minute to propel the Bantams to a 3-1 win.

Makenzie Packwood and Anna Sharp each scored as well, and Pullman’s lone goal game from Anne Petrino in the 78th minute.

Cheney and Pullman were eliminated.