Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009

PREP GIRLS' SOCCER: LC plays tough but falls at Mount Vernon

The Lynden Christian girls' soccer team turned in a strong performance late Tuesday, Oct. 20, but it wasn't quite enough to unseat the Northwest Conference leaders. Host Mount Vernon scored two quick goals in the second half to claim the 2-0 victory.

"We played very well, I thought," Lynden Christian coach Brent DeRuyter said by phone. "It was 0-0 until the 46th and 47th minutes. We had a little bit of a lull defensively and weren't quite as focused or as tight on our marks, and Mount Vernon took advantage of it. They're a good team, but I thought we played them tough."

Monica Chavez finally broke the scoreless tie, when her low shot from about 20 yards out found the back of the net of the Lyncs (2-12, 1-10 NWC). Emily Mattson made it 2-0 a minute later on a corner kick.

"I was very happy with how we played," DeRuyter said. "The one thing we need to work on is getting more shots on goal to challenge them. We got some opportunities, but weren't able to put shots on their net. They outshot us 12-1, and that's one thing we will try to work on."

The Lyncs have two games remaining this week in which to show their progress, as they host Lynden on Thursday, Oct. 22, before their regular-season finale against Nooksack Valley on Saturday, Oct. 24. Both games will have playoff implications, DeRuyter said, as the Lyncs prepare to head to the Class 1A Northwest District Tournament next week.

"We're getting healthy at the right time, and we're looking forward to how we will peak at the end of the year," DeRuyter said.

MOUNT VERNON 2, LYNDEN CHRISTIAN 0

Scoring: Goal: Monica Chavez (Mount Vernon), time: 46th minute; Goal: Emily Mattson (Mount Vernon ), assist: Ashley Morrison, time: 47th minute. Shots on goal: Mount Vernon 12; Lynden Christian 1.