Storm rolls in district opener

Goals by Kim Dorr and Kim Hazlett, a dominating defensive effort resulting in a shutout and another lopsided win. Saturday’s opening-round of the Class 2A District Tournament felt like a typical game for the undefeated Squalicum Storm.

Squalicum for the third time this season faced city-rival Bellingham, and again the scoreline swung heavily in the Storm’s favor.

Squalicum’s persistence paid off with two goals during a four-minute span in the first half, and Hazlett slotted home her 26th and 27th goals of the season in a seven-minute, second-half spurt, leading the Storm to a 4-0 district tournament win during a Halloween matinee at Civic Stadium.

“Just play our game,” Storm coach David Kish said when asked what he wanted to get out of the team’s postseason opener. “It’s a rivalry game, so we knew we were going to come in with intensity, but you still want the girls to play the way that we want to finish the season.”

The win advances Squalicum (17-0-0) to the district semis where it will face Northwest Conference rival Burlington-Edison on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Civic Stadium. Bellingham moves to the consolation side of the bracket and will play Cedarcrest in an elimination game at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Cedarcrest.

The defending 2A state champions looked like a team with plenty of playoff seasoning.

Much of the contest was played on Squalicum’s attack half, and despite being turned away early, the Storm eventually found ways to break down the Red Raiders’ defense.

The first goal, though, was bred from some Bellingham misfortune.

Squalicum’s Rachel Dorr sent a free kick into the box, but in a sliding attempt to clear, Red Raiders defender Alice Hiebert mistakenly redirected the ball into her own net, giving the Storm a 1-0 advantage in the 21st minute.

But Squalicum’s next goal was pure skill.

Rachel four minutes later struck a low ball off a corner kick toward the middle of the 18-yard box. Kim Dorr connected first touch and sent the ball whizzing past Bellingham keeper Chloe Campbell from 15 yards to give Squalicum a 2-0 lead.

Hazlett sealed the game in the second half with two impressive individual efforts, scoring in the 43rd and 50th minute.

“I’m blessed,” Kish said. “Most teams are happy to have one really good attacker, and I’m blessed to have two, as well as the rest of the girls.”

The Red Raiders put four shots on goal, but none ever really threatened keeper Rachel Runnalls. Storm defenders Olivia Benner, Kelly Anderson, Jayden Nguyen and Rachel were strong throughout.

“To have a solid backline, you need to trust those girls,” Rachel said. “It’s the whole team that is playing defense, and that has been really key, too.”

The shutout was the Storm’s 15th.

This story was originally published October 31, 2015 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Storm rolls in district opener."