EDMONDS — Meadowdale’s girls soccer team faced a familiar playoff opponent Tuesday night.
Unfortunately for the Mavericks, it was a different result from last season.
Playing Bainbridge for the second consecutive postseason, the Mavericks couldn’t keep up with the Spartans this time around. Bainbridge scored two goals in the first half and controlled the game’s tempo the rest of the way, defeating Meadowdale 3-0 in the first round of the 3A state tournament Tuesday night at Edmonds Stadium, ending the Mavericks’ season.
“Some days are your days and some days are not,” said Meadowdale head coach Wade Foley. “We didn’t play with a lot of oomph tonight.”
It was the second straight season the Mavericks have faced Bainbridge in the first round of the state tournament. Last season Meadowdale won 2-1 on penalty kicks at Edmonds Stadium.
This time around, the Spartans finished on top.
“I told their coach, ‘If you wanted to play us again all you had to do was call. We would’ve played you in the preseason,’” Foley said. “This is their year. They had a lot of young kids last year that grew up.”
The Spartans got on the board in the 26th minute when Riley Gregoire fired a shot that was blocked by a diving Ashley Routh for Meadowdale. However, Bainbridge’s Celia Story was there to put the deflection in the back of the net and give the Spartans the early advantage.
Bainbridge added another goal by Gregoire three minutes before halftime off an assist by Natalie Vukic and Vukic scored herself in the final two minutes of the game.
“They have more of an attacking style,” Foley said. “If you’ve got the personnel it’s a tough way to play.”
The champions of the Metro League Mountain division, Bainbridge (14-2-2 overall) controlled the game from the opening kickoff with crisp passes. The Spartans kept the ball away from Meadowdale, the District 1 champion, while continuing to attack the Mavericks’ goal.
The Mavericks had a few scoring opportunities in the second half to get on the board but just couldn’t finish. Meadowdale’s best chance to score came in the 57th minute when, after a throw in, senior Emily Crichlow passed the ball through to Taylor Monroe-Jones who took a shot at the goal that rolled just wide left.
Ten minutes later Crichlow crossed a ball into the front of the goal that rolled past two Meadowdale players trying to get a foot on it.
“We had our opportunities,” Foley said. “We just couldn’t capitalize.”
It’s the fifth straight year Meadowdale (14-3-3 overall) has made it to the 3A state tournament and sixth time in the past seven years for the Mavericks in the round of 16.
“It’s just a tremendous run,” Foley said. “It’s a tough way to exit. I look forward to next year and seeing what we can put together. Hopefully they have short memories.”
At Edmonds Stadium
Goals–Celia Story (B), Riley Gregoire (B), Natalie Vukic (B). Assists–Vukic (B). Goalkeepers–Bainbridge Island: Deahna King. Meadowdale: Ashley Routh. Records–Bainbridge 14-2-2 overall. Meadowdale 14-3-3.
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