Lynden gets defensive in first trophy win (w/ video highlights)

The girls’ soccer trophy case at Lynden High School has always been empty.

Well, not anymore.

In the inaugural Champions Cup — a trophy created to signify the rivalry between Ferndale and Lynden — star sophomore Sierra Smith scored early and the Lions’ defense held on to top Ferndale 1-0 on Thursday, Oct. 22, at Bender Fields.

“Everybody talks about the Ferndale-Lynden rivalry,” said Lynden coach Carlos Melendez, who went to school at Ferndale when the rivalry began in the mid-90s. “We wanted to create something with girls’ soccer. Everything is about football and basketball, it’s a big rivalry. So why not create it with girls’ soccer as well?”

This likely won’t be the last accolade to come to the Lynden girls’ soccer program, which clinched a postseason berth for the first time in school history last week.

Smith, whose knee connected with a cross from Abby Stevenson sending the ball over the head of Golden Eagles goalkeeper McKenna Buss in the fourth minute Thursday, has 18 goals on the year and she’ll be back for two more years along with a defense composed that includes a junior, a sophomore and a freshman Ali VanZanten, who Melendez described as “so calm, so smooth.”

Lynden’s defense, which ranks second in the Northwest Conference, showed its skill Thursday afternoon. Star goalkeeper Emily Holt recorded 13 saves and the Lions held off the Golden Eagles onslaught for 76 minutes.

“We didn’t really want to (defend for that long). ... I knew he (Ferndale coach Joe Gonzalez) was going to bring up people if he was still losing,” Melendez said. “That’s just who he is. He’s a great coach. ... We were just resilient.”

The Golden Eagles out-shot the Lions 13-3 but couldn’t quite find the net.

“We battled but the ball just didn’t go in,” Gonzalez said. “They’re disappointed they didn’t come away with it but that’s part of competing.”

In the spirit of Sofia

While Gonzalez didn’t want to make this trophy entirely about Sofia Milstead, who attended Lynden and died in a car accident in July, the competitive spirit of the late athlete is a big part of the Champions Cup.

“She’s a great gal so it’s always hard for me to talk about her,” said Gonzalez, who used to coach Milstead. “She’s truly a competitor. This is what she wanted. This competition is what she lived for.”

The Cup still has some engraving work to be completed on it, but both coaches assured that Milstead’s initials would be on it.

“This is about remembering her and her spirit,” Gonzalez said.

This story was originally published October 22, 2015 at 8:25 PM with the headline "Lynden gets defensive in first trophy win (w/ video highlights)."