DUVALL — Archbishop Murphy became the only Cascade Conference girls soccer team without a league loss this season, after defeating Cedarcrest 3-1 on Thursday.
That makes two weeks in a row that the Wildcats have dispatched a league rival, firmly establishing them as the team to beat. But the season isn’t sewn up yet, as a younger Cedarcrest team is gaining valuable experience every week.
“Experience is showing early in the season,” said Archbishop Murphy coach Mike Bartley. “A lot of teams, especially younger ones, catch up later in the season. We have to stay consistent in how we play.”
The Wildcats pressed the attack in the first half and initially left Cedarcrest scrambling. They scored three goals before halftime and, were it not for a 10-save performance by Red Wolves keeper Bailey Parish, that total might have been much higher.
“She’s kind of our anchor back there,” said Cedarcrest head coach Amanda Johnson, who added that she didn’t think there was much Parish could have done about the three goals the Wildcats did score.
Murphy’s Tena Ungvarsky and Cali Crisler each scored midway through the first half, and Brooke Richardson snuck in an insurance goal just before the half, bending a corner kick into the far post unassisted.
“Crisler is a phenomenal player, My girls tried really hard to shut her down,” said Johnson.
The upside for the young Cedarcrest team was that they seemed to learn a few things from the first-half drubbing.
“I told them to win the half. It wasn’t pretty, there was a lot of boot ball, but they did it,” said Johnson.
Cedarcrest held the Wildcats scoreless in the second half and Brielle Rhode took away the shutout, scoring off a corner in the 77th minute.
Johson thinks the match will teach her team to respect games against strong, seasoned opponents.
“It was good to match ourselves against a team like Archbishop Murphy that has really strong upper classmen,”
At Cedarcrest H.S.
Goals—Tena Ungvarsky (AM), Cali Crisler (AM), Brooke Richardson (AM), Brielle Rhode (C). Assists—Gabrielle Ducheane (AM). Goalkeepers—Archbishop Murphy: Natalie Robinson, Crissy Talley. Cedarcrest: Bailey Parish. Records—Archbishop Murphy 4-0-0 league, 6-0-0 overall. Cedarcrest 3-1-0, 3-3-0.
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