Sports - Sports News

POSTED: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009

PREP GIRLS' SOCCER: Sehome finally finds goal to advance to semis

BELLINGHAM - Sehome overcame a hot goalkeeper to continue its quest for a state berth, beating Granite Falls 2-0 in the first round of the 2A Northwest District Girls' Soccer Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Whatcom Community College.

The Mariners will face Lakewood, which beat Bellingham in a shootout, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. in a district semifinal game at Cedarcrest.

The win didn't come without a minor scare for Sehome, however. Though Granite Falls' Kesley Carlson stopped six first-half shots to preserve a halftime tie, sophomore forward Jessica Bertucci finally slipped a ball past the goalie just three minutes into the second half, then assisted on another in the closing minutes of regulation for the game's final score.

Carlson stuffed legitimate opportunities by Bertucci, Tanya Haggen and Sierra Loveland-Pope in the game's first 25 minutes. When Bertucci dribbled around Carlson at one point, a defender dropped back to block the shot.

It had all the makings of a frustrating afternoon for Sehome. But the Mariners never got flustered, coach Andria Fountain said.

"I think that they knew they were getting opportunities and the goalkeeper was doing a good job," Fountain said. "So we just talked about right before touching the ball just focusing a little bit more, putting it where the keeper's not and try to put it a little bit more on target."

Bertucci's goal came on a breakaway and she beat Carlson with a low shot to the far post for the score the Mariners were looking for. Hanna Tarleton took a few touches and scored when Bertucci found the freshman forward wide open on the far post. Stoppage time showed on the game clock at that point, but it was a welcome goal as Granite Falls proved far more dangerous in the second half.

Sehome finished with 12 shots on goal, not including Libby Hotson's second-half breakaway attempt that slipped past the Granite Falls keeper, but bounced off the left post. It was that kind of game.

Mariners keeper Rachel Albert did her part, earning the shutout and finishing with five saves.

"We worked hard. They didn't give up on anything," Fountain said of her team's efforts. "We'd like to have had a few more goals in the first half so they were hoping to get a couple in the second half."

SEHOME 2, GRANITE FALLS 0

Scoring: Goal: Jessica Bertucci (S), time: 43; Goal: Hanna Tarleton (S), assist: Bertucci, time: 80. Shots on goal: Sehome 12; Granite Falls 5. Goalies (saves): Sehome: Rachel Albert (5); Granite Falls: Kelsey Carlson (9).