Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009

PREP GIRLS' SOCCER: Ferndale ousted in shootout

BELLINGHAM - After a hard-fought regulation and overtime performance, Ferndale's hopes of advancing to the next round of the 3A Northwest District Girls' Soccer Tournament for the first time in school history came down to kicks from the penalty mark.

Unfortunately, the Golden Eagles' showing during a shootout with Meadowdale at Whatcom Community College on Saturday, Oct. 31, didn't resemble the effort they'd left on the field just prior. With Daisha Zwick the only player to hit the net for the Golden Eagles, Meadowdale defeated Ferndale 4-1 in extra kicks, bouncing them from the tournament's single-elimination first round.

"It's unfortunate to have it come to that," Ferndale coach Shelly Chambers said.

The Golden Eagles were fierce at times, though, especially in the first half. A spectacular goal off a left-footed volley by Kaytlyn Steele from 20 yards out gave Ferndale a 1-0 lead in the game's 24th minute. Before halftime, the Golden Eagles tallied four shots on goal, including two by Haley Locker, who flew by Meadowdale defenders on dribbling runs, each from the half-line. In the game's 36th minute, goalie Julia Grossenbacher parried Locker's second shot up and into the crossbar, where it dropped to Ferndale's Kelli Bannerman, who chested the ball across the line for score.

But the referee nixed the goal - and thereby a Golden Eagles 2-0 halftime lead - on an offsides call.

"It is what it is. That's one thing I can't control, unfortunately" Chambers said. "I didn't think she was offsides just because of the fact the ball was in front of her."

Meadowdale had its own share of bad luck, hitting the crossbar twice - once in the game's fourth minute and again 16 minutes into the second half on a shot from forward Julia Fjortoft.

Fjortoft, who gave Golden Eagle defenders fits for much of the game, delivered the tying goal roughly five minutes later.

She was shadowed by Hannah Young, who Chambers praised after the game, the entire contest. They even threw two defenders at her at times, the coach said.

"They brought a 5-9 Haley Locker," Chambers said of Fjortoft. "Pretty much that's what we defended today. So kind of a taste of our own medicine. ... You can only stop someone like that for so long."

The Ferndale defender didn't exactly make it easy on themselves, surrendering 15 corner kicks on the day, though they defended each well enough to not allow a score.

The Golden Eagles gained new life in the overtime period, pushing forward on the attack. But a shootout beckoned and Ferndale struggled mightily.

Meadowdale's first four shooters all scored while Ferndale couldn't convert. The Golden Eagles' fourth and fifth shooters never had to step up.

The loss ended Ferndale's season, but with Locker, Steele and others returning, there's a good chance the Golden Eagles will get another crack at winning the school's first postseason game.

"I anticipate hopefully being on the other end of this next year," Chambers said.

MEADOWDALE 2, FERNDALE 1 (SO)

Scoring: Goal: Kaytlyn Steele (F), time: 24; Goal: Julia Fjortoft (M), time: 62. Shots on goal: Ferndale 7; Meadowdale 5. Goalies (saves): Ferndale: Erin Lapsansky (4); Meadowdale: Julia Grossenbacher (6).