Published: Friday, September 23, 2011
Electric atmosphere spurs Lake Stevens girls soccer to win over Snohomish
Large pro-Vikings crowd, new jerseys help Vikings beat rival Panthers 1-0
LAKE STEVENS -- Andy Knutson wanted his team's game with Snohomish to be a bit different.
The Lake Stevens girls soccer coach did everything he could to make Friday night's game with the co-Wesco North favorite Panthers stand out. He even wore a white shirt and silver tie that he normally saves for the playoffs.
"I just wanted to make it a big deal," Knutson said.
His team got the message and the Vikings had a surprisingly easy time in a 1-0 victory over the previously undefeated Panthers.
Prior to the season Knutson coordinated with the Snohomish football and soccer coaches to make Friday night a doubleheader. The Vikings (5-0 league, 6-0 overall) debuted electric yellow jerseys reminiscent of the Seattle Sounders special kits.
It all worked to create a great atmosphere unlike any high school game in September. That is of course unless you root for the Panthers (5-1 league, 6-0 overall).
"Lake Stevens did a great job brining their fans tonight and supporting their team," Snohomish coach April VanAssche said. "We had some, but the atmosphere was for Lake Stevens."
Lake Stevens jumped ahead early when Alicia Amundson chipped a shot in from about 30 yards out over the head of Snohomish keeper Melissa Dreves in the 14th minute.
It was the junior midfielder's first score of the season.
"I think I owe it to (teammate) Kali Long because I usually don't have the confidence to take shots," Amundson said. "She told me to take it ... I wouldn't have taken it if she hadn't said shoot it.
"I usually don't make goals like that."
The score gave the Vikings confidence and seemed to suck the air out of the Panthers, wearing all black uniforms in the unseasonably warm September heat.
"We looked tired about 15 minutes into the game and we just never recovered," VanAssche said. "They were physically able to keep up all game. It looked like they've been training for tonight's game."
It was a rivalry game that both teams had circled on their respective calendars from the beginning of fall practice, but Snohomish didn't rise to the occasion as many expected.
"We all know it's a super big game," Amundson said. "It was really important to us ... I expected it to be a little tougher. I expected us to do worse in the heat than we did."
Knutson credited his reserves for stepping up and giving the starters a rest for his team's endurance throughout the game specifically, junior midfielder Halle Jacques.
"She was really a spark for us," Knutson said.
As disappointing as the loss was for Snohomish, VanAssche believes her team will react the right way.
"You have two choices in how to react to it and I know my team will react the right way," the Panthers coach said. "From that aspect it's a learning game especially with what we have our hopes set on."
The Lake Stevens girls soccer coach did everything he could to make Friday night's game with the co-Wesco North favorite Panthers stand out. He even wore a white shirt and silver tie that he normally saves for the playoffs.
"I just wanted to make it a big deal," Knutson said.
His team got the message and the Vikings had a surprisingly easy time in a 1-0 victory over the previously undefeated Panthers.
Prior to the season Knutson coordinated with the Snohomish football and soccer coaches to make Friday night a doubleheader. The Vikings (5-0 league, 6-0 overall) debuted electric yellow jerseys reminiscent of the Seattle Sounders special kits.
It all worked to create a great atmosphere unlike any high school game in September. That is of course unless you root for the Panthers (5-1 league, 6-0 overall).
"Lake Stevens did a great job brining their fans tonight and supporting their team," Snohomish coach April VanAssche said. "We had some, but the atmosphere was for Lake Stevens."
Lake Stevens jumped ahead early when Alicia Amundson chipped a shot in from about 30 yards out over the head of Snohomish keeper Melissa Dreves in the 14th minute.
It was the junior midfielder's first score of the season.
"I think I owe it to (teammate) Kali Long because I usually don't have the confidence to take shots," Amundson said. "She told me to take it ... I wouldn't have taken it if she hadn't said shoot it.
"I usually don't make goals like that."
The score gave the Vikings confidence and seemed to suck the air out of the Panthers, wearing all black uniforms in the unseasonably warm September heat.
"We looked tired about 15 minutes into the game and we just never recovered," VanAssche said. "They were physically able to keep up all game. It looked like they've been training for tonight's game."
It was a rivalry game that both teams had circled on their respective calendars from the beginning of fall practice, but Snohomish didn't rise to the occasion as many expected.
"We all know it's a super big game," Amundson said. "It was really important to us ... I expected it to be a little tougher. I expected us to do worse in the heat than we did."
Knutson credited his reserves for stepping up and giving the starters a rest for his team's endurance throughout the game specifically, junior midfielder Halle Jacques.
"She was really a spark for us," Knutson said.
As disappointing as the loss was for Snohomish, VanAssche believes her team will react the right way.
"You have two choices in how to react to it and I know my team will react the right way," the Panthers coach said. "From that aspect it's a learning game especially with what we have our hopes set on."
Comments
(