Vikings girls soccer wins in OT

Published 11:26 pm Tuesday, September 23, 2008

MONROE — Practice makes perfect.

And practice made for a perfect ending for Kaleen Berg Tuesday night.

A night after spending an hour after practice working on her game with her coaches, the junior midfielder scored the game-winning goal in overtime on a counter attack to lead the Lake Stevens Vikings to a 1-0 victory over the Monroe Bearcats in a Western Conference North Division game played at Monroe Stadium.

“It’s amazing. I won’t be able to sleep tonight,” the awestruck Berg said after her second game-winning shot of the season. Berg also scored the game-winner in the Vikings 1-0 win over Oak Harbor on Sept. 11.

“She stayed after practice to work on these shots. I’m happy that it came through for her,” Lake Stevens head coach Andy Knutson said.

Berg’s shot came after a back-and-forth regulation and with 1:35 remaining in overtime.

Berg, who had nearly won the game with two shots late in the second half, split two Monroe defenders before shooting the ball past Monroe’s diving goalkeeper, Dani Philippart, for the Viking’s fifth victory of the season.

Berg leads her team with five goals in as many games.

“Everyone worked hard,” Berg said of her teammates.

It was the first goal Monroe’s sophomore keeper has allowed this season. Philippart had recorded back-to-back shutouts against Cascade (0-0) and Snohomish (3-0). Lake Stevens had entered the game averaging three goals per game.

“It was really a seesaw contest. It could’ve gone either way,” Knutson said.

And it nearly did.

Monroe missed taking the lead by maybe a foot when forward Casey Neumann’s shot sailed over Lake Stevens goalkeeper Kaitlin McKenzie’s outstretched hands, then curved right of the post.

“I thought it was going in,” Monroe co-captain Kelsey Dye said.

Monroe midfielder Alyssa Drew found Neumann on the run but the sophomore wasn’t able to connect for the goal.

Monroe midfielder Kaylie Sowler also took a shot at goal but McKenzie deflected the ball keeping the game scoreless.

“It was a hard fought game. We had a couple of opportunities,” Monroe head coach Kathleen Potthast said.

The shutout was McKenzie’s third of the season. The Vikings’ keeper began the season with two straight shutouts of Marysville-Pilchuck (3-0) and Oak Harbor (1-0).

Though the score indicates it was a defensive battle, both teams had plenty of shots on goals with Lake Stevens outshooting the ‘Cats 14-9 in regulation.

“We got it done. We fought and battled,” Knutson said.

With the win Lake Stevens moved to 5-0 in the North and currently sits atop the division with 15 points.

It’s a different beginning to the 2-2-1 record that the Vikings began last season. Those Vikings went on to finish 9-7-4 overall, earning a Class 4A state tournament berth after sweeping through the 4A District 1 tournament.

“We’re excited but we’re also trying to keep focus on our next opponent,” Knutson said.

The loss was the Bearcat’s (2-1-1 in league and overall) first of the season. Monroe is also seeking its second straight postseason berth.