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POSTED: Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

PREP GIRLS' SOCCER: Squalicum falls on late overtime goal

DUVAL - Having gone 3-0 in games that went to extra kicks this season, the Squalicum girls' soccer team had to be licking its collective chops as the overtime period of a winner-to-state game against Lakewood at the Northwest District Girls' Soccer Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Cedarcrest High School neared a close.

Then Lakewood delivered an unexpected, gut-wrenching blow.

With just more than a minute left in overtime, Storm keeper Kara Merfeld leapt to collect a high bouncing ball in the penalty box, but collided with a hard-charging Cougar player. Both players hit the wet turf, along with the ball, which Abby Burke stepped up and sent over the head and the hand of a frantic Squalicum defender into the net.

Storm players immediately looked to the referee for a whistle, but instead he signaled a goal. The game was over, giving Lakewood a 1-0 golden goal win and a trip to state, ending Squalicum's season in the process.

"It's a 50-50 ball," Squalicum coach David Kish said of the non-call after the game-ending collision and game-ending score. "That girl has the right to go up for the header, just as my keeper has the right to go up and try to win it."

The Storm had dominated the two overtime periods up to that point, but were unable to find a way past Lakewood goalkeeper Miranda Head.

Still, having won all three shootouts they'd participated in this season, including a perfect showing during a win over Burlington-Edison on Thursday to advance to Saturday's winner-to-state game, Squalicum seemingly had the Cougars right where they wanted them.

"I told them it's a good thing that team won in overtime because if we'd gone to a shootout we would have won," Kish said of his team, a collection of teary eyes and blank stares immediately following the loss. "This is the first time we've lost all season in overtime. My girls would have won this game if it had gone to a shootout."

Squalicum started the game strong, trudging though a gloomy downpour of rain to put four shots on goal and earn four corner kicks. Jessica Wallace and Amy Wilson crashed the far post on one such cross in the 23rd minute, but the ball slipped through and out of bounds, giving the Storm another corner kick but not the goal they needed. Merfeld, who finished with five saves and turned in a strong outing, did well to bat down a hard shot by a Lakewood player minutes before halftime, with the rebound attempt missing.

The rain cleared up for the game's second half, which saw the Storm make another charge late. Squalicum's best chance during the run was a far post header by Savannah Smith off a cross by Gabby Nunez with four minutes left in the game. But it missed. And a corner kick cross by Wallace was corralled midair by the Lakewood goalie seconds before the whistle blew ending regulation at a scoreless tie.

It was a strong effort by the Storm, though that fact likely offered little comfort to Squalicum players, who stood seconds after the Lakewood goal looking in disbelief as the referee signaled a goal instead of a foul.

Still, Kish said his defense never should have allowed the ball to bounce freely through the defensive third of the field.

"It's been something we've struggled with this year," Kish said. "We wait for bouncing balls instead of winning it the first time in the air. You wait and wait and wait. When a team's pressing up, you can't wait for a ball. And that's what we did. We waited for it and just poor timing."

Squalicum ends the year with some definite highlights, notably winning a district game and notching an 11-5 regular season record, including two wins over Burlington-Edison, something the team hasn't done in a while, the coach said.

Unfortunately, a state berth can't be added to that list.

"It's hard because we win the first district game that we've won in four years and to have the opportunity to go to state," Kish said. "For a bunch of girls who that was their dream was to go to state this year, to be this close and to not get there, it does hurt. You know you've got 11 seniors who know they don't get a second shot at it."

LAKEWOOD 1, SQUALICUM 0 (OT)

Scoring: Goal: Abby Burke (L), time: 89. Shots on goal: Squalicum 6; Lakewood 5. Goalies (saves): Squalicum: Kara Merfeld (5); Lakewood: Miranda Head (6).