The Ferndale girls' soccer team scored a late goal to defeat Bellingham 2-1 in a Northwest Conference match on Monday, Oct. 22, in Bellingham.

"We have a tendency to cower a bit when playing teams that are physical, but we came out and played hard in the second half," Bellingham coach Mark Wright said in a phone interview. "We just couldn't knock one in. I thought it was a pretty even game and hopefully it will help us out in the playoffs."

Jordin Bartel scored the first goal for Ferndale in the 16th minute.

Bellingham's Hattie North answered back 10 minutes later.

"We were preparing ourselves for the playoffs," Ferndale coach Joe Gonzalez said in a phone interview. "It was an intense game with a lot of hard tackles."

Koral Weidkamp scored Ferndale's winning goal in the 72nd minute.

"Koral had a beautiful goal and was my player of the game," Gonzalez said.

Ferndale (7-6-3, 7-3-2 NWC) will play its playoff game on Saturday, Oct. 27.

Bellingham finished the year 9-6-1, 9-3-0 NWC, and will play at Granite Falls on Saturday, Oct. 27, in the playoffs.

FERNDALE 2, BELLINGHAM 1

Scoring: Goal: Jordin Bartel (Ferndale), time: 16:00; Goal: Hattie North (Bellingham), time: 26:00; Goal: Koral Weidkamp (Ferndale), time: 72:00. Shots on goal: Ferndale 10; Bellingham 7. Goalies (saves): Ferndale: Vernelle Johnson (6); Bellingham: Hannah Jacobus (8).