BELLINGHAM - Surrendering a quarter of all goals given up in a season in one game, while simultaneously failing to score in an opening-round playoff loss, could deflate quite a few teams.
Not the Squalicum Storm.
Determined not to make Tuesday night's Class 2A Northwest District Tournament elimination game her last match wearing a Storm jersey, defender Kayla Erickson and host of other Squalicum defenders banded together to blank Bellingham 2-0 at Civic Stadium and earn a winner-to-state game Thursday, Nov. 3.
The victory occurred three days removed from a 4-0 loss against Archbishop Murphy on the same Civic Stadium turf.
"We just knew what we needed to do tonight," Erickson said. "The Archbishop game always kind of hurts you, but you have to be able to bounce back and we did."
Erickson wasn't the only defender playing a role in stifling Bellingham's offensive attack. Squalicum's Andrea DeVere and Lauren Wallace also were key in the Storm's shutout.
"(Our defense was) amazing, actually," Squalicum coach David Kish said. "You look at Bellingham's statistics and you see that they've scored goals against every tough team. We knew if we'd stop them from getting the ball into our net we'd win the game."
Combined with the Storm's ability to shut down Bellingham's major scoring threat, Larkyn Nelson, Squalicum's goal producer, Kylie Garrison, proved why she ranks in the top five in goals scored in the Northwest Conference.
Garrison added her 15th and 16th goals of the season, recording both scores for the Storm.
"It felt amazing to win," Garrison said. "I was so proud of my team that it almost brought tears to my eyes. The goals really energized us."
Garrison's first goal of the match came off a beautifully played through ball from teammate Lauren Gibb.
Gibb stole the ball from a Bellingham defender, turned around from the right side of the pitch and weaved a ball through two Red Raiders right onto the foot of Garrison, who booted the ball past the left of Bellingham goal keeper Hanna Jacobus to give the Storm a 1-0 lead.
Kish was pleased with the goal as the Storm have struggled to get going early in matches.
"We've really been focusing on playing hard from the start," Kish said. "Even in the Archbishop game, I think we played well the first 25 minutes. And it was nice to see us finish tonight as hard as we started."
Bellingham's defense played the Storm tough. Heading into the half the Red Raiders had allowed just three Storm shots on goal while Squalicum limited Bellingham to two shots on frame.
Little changed in the second half as both teams totaled eight shots on goal for the match.
Squalicum made its chances count, and two minutes into the final 40 minutes Garrison struck once more.
The speedy senior received a deflected ball in Bellingham's scoring area and kicked a bouncing ball past Jacobus into the back of the net to take a 2-0 advantage.
"She's just awesome," said Kish, referring to Garrison and her two-goal performance. "I just told her today to heat it up. She had a lot of heart."
Bellingham was never able to rebound from the deficit as the Red Raiders struggled to string anything together offensively throughout the second half.
"Usually Larkyn (Nelson) is looking to get the ball on the ground and make a few moves," Bellingham coach Mark Wright said. "But (Squalicum) stuck to her well and it didn't seem like we had anything else."
For the Red Raiders, the loss ended their season, but Wright was proud of what his team was able to accomplish.
"In the locker room, our girls were real sad," Wright said. "I'm so proud of our seniors. More than anything they are tremendous people. They did a good job of joining together after we had loss after loss early in the season."
Squalicum's win earns the Storm a match against Lakewood at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at Sultan High School in a winner-to-state match.
"I'm stoked (for the match)," Garrison said. "If we play like we did today, I'm feeling it. I think we will go to state."
Reach Andrew Lang at andrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call 360-756-2862
Squalicum 2, Bellingham 0
Scoring: Goal: Kylie Garrison (Squalicum), assist: Lauren Gibb, time: 14; Goal: Kylie Garrison (Squalicum), time: 42. Shots on goal: Squalicum 5; Bellingham 3. Goalies (saves): Squalicum: Lauren Eckert (3); Bellingham: Hanna Jacobus (3).
