S. Whidbey suffers first loss in championship shootout

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, November 22, 2003

LAKEWOOD — In a cruel finish to an otherwise perfect season, the South Whidbey girls soccer team lost to Connell in the Class 2A state championship match Saturday night.

After a 90-minute display of perhaps the state’s two best defensive units, the Eagles secured a 1-0 victory by making four penalty kicks to South Whidbey’s two in a shootout at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood.

"It was pretty much an even match," said Falcons coach Paul Arand, after his team lost its first game of the season. "It just came down to a couple of penalty shots. I think our girls should hold their heads high, because they played a great game.

"We feel really good about a 21-1 season. I almost feel like we’re sharing that trophy."

Only once during the 80-minute regulation period and two five-minute overtime sessions did a shot have a solid chance to go in. South Whidbey goalkeeper Allyson Riggs, whose diving save of Coriann Wood’s shot in the 30th minute kept the Falcons afloat, recorded five stops.

She nearly saved two penalty kicks in the shootout, but shots by Ashley Price and Lauryn Koelzer spun off her fingertips and just inside the left post. Riggs was visibly shaken after South Whidbey’s first-ever girls soccer championship match. When her teammates saw her crumpled near the goal, they sprinted over to console her. After the shootout game of inches, no one blamed Riggs, who had contributed to 12 shutouts during the season.

Arand pointed to a knee injury suffered by sophomore midfielder Katie Watson — arguably the team’s best player — seven minutes before halftime. Watson, who was carried off the field, did not return.

"She is such and integral part of our team," Arand said. "She’s been a leader all year long."

Janica Wood, who played midfield for the Eagles (19-2-2) during the first 90 minutes, took over for starting goalkeeper Laurin Eppich for the penalty-kick session. Wood stopped two South Whidbey attempts, including a spectacular diving save of Kelsey Kimmel’s line-drive shot toward just inside of the left post.

"She was amazing," Connell coach Hugo Garcia said.

Jenna Wild and Taryn Langlois knocked in penalty kicks for the Falcons. Eppich converted Connell’s fourth straight penalty shot to secure Connell’s third consecutive shootout victory.

Prior to the shootout, defense ruled.

The game was played mostly in the middle 40 yards of the field by two teams that had combined for nearly 30 shutouts this season.

Connell’s best opportunity came in the 30th minute.

The ball rattled around in front of the South Whidbey goal. Falcons sweeper Rita Jones put a foot on the ball, but it deflected off of an Eagle right to Coriann Wood in point-blank range. Coriann Wood took a shot, but Riggs went to the turf to make a save.

Claudia Gil-Osorio nearly had a solid opportunity in the 23rd minute, but Trisha Quinton knocked the ball out of the goal box before Gil-Osorio could take a shot.

Koelzer appeared to have a chance at a breakaway goal in the 63rd minute, but Langlois came across the field and slid into the ball to knock it away.

Koelzer again broke free three minutes later, but Riggs charged and slid into the ball.

If not for the penalty-kick session, the game might have gone on past Thanksgiving before either defense allowed a goal.

For Gil-Osorio, there’s nothing wrong with a near-perfect season.

"We got second today and that is awesome," said Gil-Osorio, who finished her senior season with 32 goals. "No other team has ever done that, so we should be proud."