Lynden girls’ soccer ends historic season with loss

Lynden girls’ soccer goalkeeper Emily Holt has been the heart and soul of the Lions throughout an historic 2015 season.

That didn’t change Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Civic Stadium.

She made nine saves including back-to-back blocks late, won several jump balls to halt Granite Falls attacks and was the vocal leader of the defense despite battling through an injury sustained late in the regular season.

Only this time, the performance wouldn’t translate into a win.

Granite Falls’ 71st minute goal – a swinging cross from outside back Meaghan White to a perfect run by forward Jillian Zachary, who blasted it past a sliding Holt – gave the Tigers a 1-0 Class 2A Northwest District Tournament win and eliminated Lynden.

“She’s been phenomenal,” Lynden coach Carlos Melendez said of his senior goalie. “She means everything to this team and more importantly, this teams means everything to her.”

Lynden finished the season with a 12-5-1 record and its first postseason berth in school history.

And after the game, more than just the Lions players, coaches and fans had a feeling Lynden would be back in the coming years.

Squalicum coach David Kish approached Melendez following the match and let him know it happens to the best squads.

“I’ve been there,” Kish said.

With an extremely young defensive core and a superstar forward Sierra Smith returning to the team, the Lions have staying power.

“It’s a young program. I feel like I’m just getting my grasp on the program and building it from there,” Melendez said. “We have something to build off. We’ve tasted it now.”

Lynden could have tasted even more of the playoffs with a win Tuesday night, but an often one-dimensional offense, one late defensive slip-up and a great gameplan put together by Granite Falls sealed the Lions’ fate.

As has often been the case this season for the Lions, the offense was focused around the sophomore Smith.

She had three fantastic chances in the first half, including one that hit the upright. In the second half, the Tigers adjusted and Smith rarely had moments where two defenders weren’t on her when she touched the ball.

“The first half we had opportunities … we just couldn’t finish,” Melendez said. “We kept the same type of offense in the second half and they were able to contain her a little bit.”

The other weapon of choice for the Lions this season has been the counter attack and Granite Falls must have reviewed the game film because the Tigers refused to put more than five players forward on attack. Instead, they opted for five defenders back and a goalkeeper to limit the Lions’ chances.

It worked to perfection as goalkeeper Kelsey Bechtholdt and the defense kept Lynden off the board and allowed them to advance to a match with Burlington-Edison on Thursday, Nov. 5.

This story was originally published November 3, 2015 at 10:10 PM with the headline "Lynden girls’ soccer ends historic season with loss."