BELLINGHAM - The Squalicum girls' soccer team accomplished the near impossible with its 2-1 win over Sehome in the Class 2A Northwest District Tournament final on Saturday, Nov. 3.

Squalicum won the district title after defeating previously undefeated Archbishop Murphy in the semifinals and then defeating previously undefeated Sehome in the finals.

"We need to realize that we are a quality team," Squalicum coach David Kish said. "We had two really big challenges playing against Archbishop Murphy and Sehome, who were both ranked and were undefeated. We can play with any team and we need to realize that."

Squalicum scored first in the 29th minute on a give-and-go between Kim Dorr and Sarah Byron. Dorr collected the ball in the middle of the box and put it past Sehome goalkeeper Rachel Albert.

"We usually do that a lot in practice so it was really cool to do that in a game," Dorr said. "We came out with a lot of intensity and heart and wanted to redeem ourselves for the last two games we have played against them."

Before the first goal neither team had many chances. The game went back and forth, but neither offense could capitalize.

"We have a really good passing game but we really didn't in the beginning of the game," Kish said. "We were more focused on playing defense and marking them than we were on playing our offense."

Sehome came into the second half with more intensity and was rewarded with a goal five minutes in. Nikki Thon put herself in the right position on a corner. The ball wasn't cleared out of the box and Thon was able to slot it in.

"We have been kind of coming out slow lately and I don't really know why," Sehome coach Andria Fountain said. "I think we had good individual efforts, we just didn't as a team."

Dorr scored her second goal in the 70th minute when she collected a ball in the box, turned and put it past Albert.

"There really wasn't much Rachel could do on those goals," Fountain said. "They were just lapses in the defense and they were able to capitalize. I thought it was a pretty even match."

Squalicum earned home field advantage for the first two rounds of the state tournament with the win.

"We just need to come out in every game with intensity and know that anything can happen as long as you try your best," Dorr said.

Sehome will travel for its first round of the tournament.

"I'm actually OK with getting the second seed," Fountain said. "It puts us on the other side of the bracket of Squalicum and Sumner and some of the tougher teams on that part of the bracket."

SQUALICUM 2, SEHOME 1

Scoring: Goal: Kim Dorr (Squalicum), assist: Sarah Byron, time: 29:00; Goal: Nikki Thon (Sehome), time: 45:00; Goal: Kim Dorr (Squalicum), assist: Jackie Dierdorff, time: 70:00. Shots on goal: Squalicum 5; Sehome 10. Goalies (saves): Squalicum: Lauren Eckert (6); Sehome: Rachel Albert (2).