Sports - Sports News

POSTED: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009

PREP GIRLS' SOCCER: Squalicum falls to Cedarcrest

BELLINGHAM - Save for a single flinch, Squalicum stood toe-to-toe with Cedarcrest for most of a first-round game at the Class 2A Northwest District Girls' Soccer Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Whatcom Community College.

Still, it was all the Red Wolves' Gwen Bieck needed to send a second half volley past Storm goalkeeper Kara Merfeld to sink Squalicum 1-0, sending it to the elimination bracket with a game set for Thursday, Nov. 5, against Burlington-Edison, a team the Storm beat 1-0 in overtime earlier in the year. The district second-round games are being held at Cedarcrest.

"We didn't mark up one player and they punished us for it," Squalicum coach David Kish said.

The goal was set up by Cedarcrest's Ashton Griffin, who sent a pass down the sideline to forward Maggie Pleis. Pleis crossed the ball into the penalty box where Bieck eventually found her way to the ball for a laser finish.

"Like I said, it was one unfortunate breakdown," Kish said. "At this level in the playoffs, that's the difference."

The talented trio was at the heart of the Cedarcrest attack. Bieck gave Cedarcrest its best shot in a scoreless first half, sending a side volley toward goal, off a pass from Pleis, only to have Merfeld batt the ball down and then collect it.

Merfeld finished with five saves on the day while the Storm defense did well to hold their opponent to six shots on goal and a 0-0 halftime tie.

"It pretty much evolved around (Bieck, Griffin and Pleis)," Kish said of the Red Wolves attack. "And I thought we did a pretty good job playing tough against them. Frustrated them, that was clear. You know when you're kicking a girl and drawing a yellow card it's clear you're in their head."

The yellow card, the game's only card, went to Griffin just before halftime, but both teams played physical at times.

Squalicum had its best chances around the game's 20-minute mark, when the Storm surged back after coming under pressure early. Katie Stick got off a shot from 16 yards out, but the Red Wolves keeper was in great position to make the save. Two minutes later, Amy Wilson drove a ball from 25 yards out, but the keeper made another great play to tip the ball around the goal.

In the second half, Squalicum had some trouble building a sustained attack. Jessica Wallace, who led the Storm during the regular season with seven goals and 10 assists, never got a clear shot on goal, though her unsuccessful breakaway attempt with less than two minutes remaining was the Storm's last, best chance to tie the game.

"We battled for 80 minutes and it was one chance and we can't let that happen again," Kish said to his players after the game. "And our season's not over."

CEDARCREST 1, SQUALICUM 0

Scoring: Goal: Gwen Bieck (C), time: 51. Shots on goal: Squalicum 2; Cedarcrest 6. Goalies (saves): Squalicum: Kara Merfeld (5); Cedarcrest: Kori Butterfield (2).