Edmonds-Woodway escapes with 1-0 victory over Mercer Island

Published 9:52 pm Tuesday, September 9, 2014

EDMONDS — If Tuesday night’s non-conference girls soccer game between Edmonds-Woodway and Mercer Island is any indication, the Warriors move from 4A to 3A won’t mean an easier schedule.

Edmonds-Woodway was tested from the opening kick to the final whistle against the Islanders, but escaped with a 1-0 victory to open its season.

“I expect most nights to be like this,” Edmonds-Woodway head coach Bill LeCompte said. “I think our conference is a good conference to be in. I think whoever comes out of it is going to be prepared to be dealing with the stuff at the state level.

“This definitely helps reiterate what I thought, which is it’s going to be competitive.”

Both teams started slowly and defense dominated the game’s first 40 minutes. At halftime of the scoreless tie LeCompte addressed his team.

“I think we had some opportunities in the first half, we just didn’t take them,” LeCompte said. “I think in the first half we got a little bit caught up in what they wanted to do. We talked about it at halftime, continuing to do what we’re working on and things will happen.”

Mercer Island might have got a similar speech at halftime, both teams came out more aggressive after the intermission.

But it was Edmonds-Woodway that was finally able to capitalize.

Senior Rylee Peterson sent a corner kick to the head of junior Gabby Clark in the 51st minute that Clark was able to direct past Mercer Island goalkeeper Bella Johnson for the game’s only goal.

“She’s got a good idea of what she wants to do with the ball and how to serve it up,” Le Compte said of Peterson.

Despite having a one-goal advantage, LeCompte’s Warriors didn’t slow their attack. Edmonds-Woodway gave itself several opportunities to extend its lead in the final 30 minutes of the game.

“We’ve got to continue to press and put our style of play on the field,” LeCompte said. “I know some coaches will try to bunker in with a one-goal lead. I’m not one of those guys. We’ve got to continue to play, especially the first game, we’ve got to figure stuff out.”

Mercer Island was not without chances, but for the most part Edmonds-Woodway’s defense and senior starting goalkeeper Kiera Towell kept the Islanders in check.

“Kiera’s one of the best goalkeepers in the state of Washington,” LeCompte said. “To have her in our net is always a positive. On the backline there’s only one returner from last year. That was kind of one of those question marks. How would we do with new younger players? I thought they did exceptional.”

The Warriors graduated seven seniors last season, which means seven players are new to this year’s varsity roster. LeCompte seemed happy to see the first-game jitters disappear quickly.

“I think the intensity on both sides of the ball got higher in the second half,” LeCompte said. “I definitely think that some of the new kids that we have on our roster they got a taste of it in the first half and it was kind of like, ‘This is what it’s going to be.’ And they kind of took that on and did better in the second half. We look for them to continue to grow in that way.

“Tonight they just went 80 minutes toe-to-toe with a good team,” LeCompte said. “Hopefully that does build confidence, because it should.”

Aaron Lommers covers prep sports for The Herald. Follow him on Twitter at @aaronlommers and contact him at alommers@heraldnet.com.

At Edmonds Stadium

Goals—Gabby Clark (EW). Assists—Rylee Peterson (EW). Goalkeepers—Mercer Island: Bella Johnson. Edmonds-Woodway: Kiera Towell. Records—Mercer Island 0-1-0 overall. Edmonds-Woodway 1-0-0.