Berg boots Lake Stevens to top

EVERETT — Some coaches repeat advice over and over only to see players either ignore it or forget it.

Here’s an example from Andy Knutson, Lake Stevens High School’s head girls soccer coach: “Basically, you tell the girls that if the ball goes over your head on a free kick, you follow the ball in and you try to get the rebound. … And they don’t usually do it.”

But when they do, it can turn out pretty special.

Kaleen Berg followed up teammate Sandra Osborn’s free kick with a goal on a rebound shot late in the first half and Lake Stevens edged the previously surging Everett Seagulls 1-0 Thursday in a girls soccer game at Everett Memorial Stadium.

Berg’s team- and league-leading 18th goal of the season was the difference for the Vikings in a clash that featured the Western Conference North Division’s top two teams. It was the final regular-season outing for both squads.

Lake Stevens (13-2-1) earned a share of the Wesco North championship, splitting it with Everett (13-2-1), which beat Lake Stevens 3-0 earlier this season.

“Everyone wanted to go out and play our best and show (Everett) that we were better,” said Berg, a junior playing her first season of varsity soccer. “Everyone worked hard. It started with the defense through the (midfielders) and up to the forwards.”

Lake Stevens goalkeeper Kaitlin McKenzie earned her eighth shutout of the year. She made three saves in the first half and in the second half hustled to stifle several Everett attacks.

Lake Stevens, the Wesco North No. 1 Class 4A seed, plays host to South No. 2 seed Kamiak 7 p.m. Tuesday in the 4A District 1 tournament. Playing Everett, which outscored its previous nine foes 37-4, was a great way to prepare for the postseason, coach Knutson said.

“Everett’s a great team,” he said, “and we were really fortunate we got to play a great team going into the playoffs. I’m hoping that we can carry some of this over.”

Everett, a 3A school, will play host to either Sedro-Woolley or Lynnwood 11 a.m. Saturday in a 3A District 1 tournament game at Everett Memorial Stadium. Despite losing to Lake Stevens, the Seagulls won a share of the Wesco North title for the first time in school history. The program had not won a division championship of any kind since the mid-1970s.

But after the game Everett co-captains Valerie Stahl and Shelby Bell were more concerned about regrouping for Saturday, when Everett continues its quest to reach the state playoffs for the third consecutive year.

Everett beat Lake Stevens 3-0 on Oct. 2, scoring all of its goals in the final 10 minutes of the first half. What was the difference this time? “I think it’s more of what we weren’t able to do. I don’t think (Lake Stevens) had anything different (or) special,” said Stahl, one of 10 Everett seniors who were honored in a pre-game ceremony on senior night.

“Our heads weren’t in it,” Bell said.

It seemed the game was bound to be 0-0 going into halftime, but Lake Stevens stunned Everett with a goal late in the first half. With 5:45 to go, Berg controlled a rebound and headed the ball into the net.

“It went over her head and she just ran and basically it was her and (Everett goalkeeper Emily Nesting). Right place, right time, just like she’s been all year,” said Knutson.

Osborn’s 45-yard free kick ignited the scoring play. She drilled the ball at the crossbar and forced Nesting to leap and make a save, her third of four in the half. The ball bounced about 5 yards away from the net and Berg headed it in.

With Everett poised to tie it up early in the second half, Osborn made a clutch defensive play and preserved Lake Stevens’ lead. Everett’s Sele Vance charged in from the left side and snuck a bouncing shot by McKenzie. As the ball moved perilously close to the net, Osborn zoomed in and kicked it away. About 30 seconds later Everett created another dangerous attack off of a corner kick but McKenzie pounced, foiling the Seagulls again.

Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.