SHORELINE — After building a 3-0 lead, Shorecrest held off a late rally to defeat Ridgefield in a 2A state semifinal, earning the Scots a berth in Saturday’s state championship.
“(We’re) so excited,” said Shorecrest coach Mindy Dalziel, who won state championships as a player at Shorecrest in 1992 and 1993. “I’m not even sure we’ve even realized that we won.”
Shorecrest was led by senior forward Meghan Wicken, who scored two goals, including what proved to be the game-winner in the 56th minute. Shorecrest has scored multiple goals in all three of its state games.
“I’m really proud of Meghan. Meghan is my unsung hero,” Dalziel said. “Besides the fact that she scored, she’s really stepped up as being a senior and enjoying every moment of this.”
Junior forward Sophia Viviano scored from just inside the goalie box with a right footer that rolled past a diving goalkeeper to put Shorecrest ahead 1-0 in the 16th minute. Viviano, a first-team All-Wesco selection, scored four goals in Shorecrest’s 4-3 win over Liberty in the quarterfinals, and twice in its 4-0 win over Black Hills in the opening round.
Viviano has 31 goals this season.
“If you get (Sophia) the ball and give her the opportunity, she is going to find the back of the net,” Dalziel said. “That’s what she does best.”
Wicken scored on a breakaway to put the Scots up 2-0 in the 27th minute. In the 56th minute, she scored after a deflected shot slipped through the hands of the Ridgefield goalkeeper, giving Shorecrest its 3-0 lead.
The Scots appeared to have the game in hand until the Spudders responded with goals in the 63rd and the 88th minutes. Sophomore forwards Taryn Ries and Kara Klaus scored goals for Ridgefield.
“I was mad at us because I felt like we weren’t taking care of ourselves and protecting ourselves,” Dalziel said. “We were allowing too much space.”
The Scots advance to play either Squalicum or Ephrata in the championship game at 4 p.m. Saturday at Shoreline Stadium.
Goals—Sophia Viviano (SC), Meghan Wicken (SC) 2, Taryn Ries (R), Kara Klaus (R). Assists—Emily Hicks (SC), Ally Fox (R). Goalkeepers—Sarah Kaufman (R), Kate Wiper (S). Records—Ridgefield 17-3-1. Shorecrest 19-4-0.
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