Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Monday, Oct. 26, 2009

PREP GIRLS' SOCCER: Bertucci scores twice to lead Sehome over Bellingham

BELLINGHAM - The Sehome girls' soccer team didn't need additional motivation to take down Bellingham 2-0 in a Northwest Conference game on Monday, Oct. 26, at Civic Stadium.

The Mariners, who finished the season 12-1 in league play and 15-1 overall, entered the game having already locked up the top seed in the Class 2A Northwest Conference Northwest District Tournament.

But sophomore forward Jessica Bertucci scored two second-half goals to lead Sehome to victory in a game that featured plenty of postseason intensity.

"We already knew we had the No. 1 seed, but it's a crosstown rival," Sehome coach Andria Fountain said. "We've lost to Bellingham in this game a couple of times that's cost us the conference title."

Bertucci broke through a tough Red Raider defense to score both her goals. The first came in the game's 47th minute off a pass from Megan Schrupp, who slipped the ball in behind the Bellingham back line to her streaking teammate. Goalkeeper Hanna Wade, who had three saves on the night, rushed out to contend, but in a near collision the ball ended up in the back of the net.

Sehome got a much-needed cushion when Bertucci broke through for a breakaway goal with five minutes left in the game.

"Tanya (Haggen) just played a super good ball to me and all I had to do was put a couple touches on it," said Bertucci, who leads the Mariners with 14 goals this year.

Neither team registered a shot on a goal in the first half, though plenty missed over and wide, including a 25-yard crack from Bellingham's Joy Robinette, a stead ball-winner and distributor, that caused the midfielder to slump to the turf immediately thereafter.

She had to be carried off the field with what Bellingham coach Mark Wright said was believed to be a quad strain.

"When she went out of the game the feel of the game changed," Wright said.

Whether or not Robinette will be available for the Red Raiders' 2A district game at Lakewood, on Saturday, is still up in the air, Wright said.

Robinette left in the game's 33rd minute, but lightening-quick center-mid Kim Cooper provided a spark thereafter. But Bellingham just couldn't get enough quality shots on goal, finishing with just two while the Mariners had five.

Freshman Larken Nelson had the Red Raiders' best chance in the game's 66th minute, taking a ball that slipped past Sehome's Kaya Jones into the penalty box, but having her shot stuffed by goalie Rachel Albert, who sprinted off her line to contend.

"They had some chances, we had some push," Wright said. "The difference is they have some dangerous finishers. And we're getting there. We're getting better and better at it."

Reach Ben Fletcher at ben.fletcher@bellinghamherald.com or 715-2285.

SEHOME 2, BELLINGHAM 0

Scoring: Goal: Jessica Bertucci (S), assist: Megan Schrupp, time: 47; Goal: Bertucci (S), assist: Tanya Haggen, time: 75. Shots on goal: Sehome 5; Bellingham 2. Goalies (saves): Sehome: Jamie Albert (2); Bellingham: Hanna Wade (3).