EDMONDS — Meadowdale freshman goalkeeper Ashley Routh showed some veteran poise in a pressure-packed situation.
Routh made two huge saves, including what turned out to be the game-winner, during a shootout to lead the Mavericks to a 2-1 victory over Bishop Blanchet in a Class 3A state girls soccer quarterfinal game Saturday at Edmonds Stadium.
With teammates Hannah Shouse, Alyssa Navlet, Alisa Sagdahl and Emily Crichlow having scored to give Meadowdale a 4-3 advantage in the shootout, Routh faced Sara Millstein, Bishop Blanchet’s fifth shooter. As she had done in the second round, Routh pounced on the ball to secure the victory and then was mobbed by her happy teammates.
As she waited for the final shot, Routh did her best to calm her nerves.
“At that point, I was just like give it your all. Go for it,” Routh said. “I was just thinking to myself you can do it. You can do it and stay focused.”
The victory sends the Mavericks (18-3 overall) into the state semifinals for the first time since 1981 when Meadowdale won the Class 4A title. Meadowdale will play Seattle Prep on Nov. 18 at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup. The Panthers edged the Scots 2-1 in another shootout (6-5).
Meadowdale coach Wade Foley was impressed by Routh’s performance Saturday.
“That’s a lot of pressure for a freshman,” he said. “She really came through for us again.”
For Routh, the shootout was both a mental and physical test. She made sure not to let any of the Braves get into her head.
“They’re coming onto my turf,” Routh said. “I’m protecting my house, not theirs.”
Routh also tried to see if the shooters tipped off where they were going to attempt to boot the ball.
“You can kind of see by where they look or their plant foot,” Routh said. “You can tell.”
Routh and the Mavericks almost didn’t make it to overtime and the shootout.
Blanchet (10-8-4) struck first as Stephanie Spierkerman scored in the 19th minute when the Meadowdale defense was unable to clear a ball that had managed to thread its way through the middle of the field to the front of the goal.
“If you don’t clear it, you run the risk of somebody coming in and sneaking it in,” Foley said. “I think there was a little confusion on the defensive side and we just didn’t get it out in time and they were able to knock it in.”
Meadowdale went into halftime trailing 1-0 but there was no panic among the Mavericks, who trailed Bonney Lake 2-0 in the first round before rallying to win 4-3.
“We just realized we could do this. We just knew to pick it up and play our game,” Routh said.
“With 9 minutes remaining, Meadowdale’s Roslyn Stapleton booted a corner kick in front of the goal. Teammate Kendall Raecker corraled the ball and scored the tying goal.
“It shows that these girls have a lot of heart,” Foley said of the come-from-behind victory. “They know what they want and they believe.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
