Monroe earns state berth in girls soccer

MONROE — In playoff soccer games, it’s not uncommon for tears to be shed by the team on the wrong side of the final outcome.

That was no different Monday night at Monroe stadium. On the final penalty kick attempt of the night, when Kamiak’s Megan Blocker kicked right but Monroe

goalie Dani Philippart’s diving save gave Monroe the victory. Blocker’s tears were in contrast to the Bearcats, who mobbed their triumphant keeper.

“She stepped it up big,” Monroe coach Kathleen Potthast said about Philippart. “We have a lot of confidence in her.&#14

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The 2-1 shootout win propels the Bearcats (11-4-2) into the state tournament for the first time since 2004 and into a game for seeding with unbeaten Jackson Friday.

For Kamiak the tears are only temporary, however.

“We live again,” Kamiak coach Beth Stewart said. “So that’s good.”

The Knights (10-5-2) host a game Wednesday in the next leg of the playoffs but must win two more to get the district’s third state berth.

Philippart, who had just three saves on the night, was barely part of the action during regulation and overtime, but all the pressure fell on the junior and Kamiak keeper Tana Foster in the end.

Monroe shot first and each team connected with their first three attempts. For Monroe it was Alyssa Drew, Kaylie Sowler and Payton Wangner. Paige Littrell, Emma Makela and Hillary Hermes connected for Kamiak.

The Bearcats’ Casey Neumann was wide left on her attempt and the pressure ratcheted up for Philippart.

“It’s crazy because it’s all on you,” she said. “I felt that I had to step up and do it for my team.”

She was granted a reprieve when Kamiak’s Rachel Simmons sailed her attempt through the football uprights. Monroe’s Lindsey Dye blasted her attempt in the upper right of the net, to give the Bearcats a 4-3 advantage and set up Philippart’s heroics.

Prior to the loss Kamiak had previously been 3-0 when overtime wasn’t enough to settle the score this season.

During regulation the Bearcats were the aggressors early on their home turf, but the rain strengthened from a drizzle to a downpour and their attack waned. Stewart noticed that the style of play in the Wesco North differed significantly from the South, where her Knights finished third on the regular season.

“It was physical,” she said, “clearly more than we have seen in the South.”

Monroe had a 7-3 foul advantage on the night and committed one deep in its own end that gave Kamiak a free kick from the football twenty yard line in the 24th minute. Simmons took advantage with a perfect free kick that sailed untouched above the outstretched arms of Philippart and just under the crossbar for a 1-0 Knights advantage.

Monroe answered the score with a burst of pressure on the offensive end.

Off a Bearcat corner kick, Kayla Browne had a shot from point-blank range that was just saved by Foster. Moments later Browne had a bicycle kick high in the air and Drew leaped high in the center of the box and sent the ball into the net with a monster header in the 36th minute.

“I thought I was going to lose it in the lights,” the junior captain said. “But I got my head on it.”

As the second half progressed it looked like the game was destined for penalties since very few serious chances came up for either squad.

In the 68th minute the Bearcats attempted their fifth of six corners on the game. Much of their offense this year has come from corners thanks to the nifty foot of Kaitlynn Chesemore. The senior captain sent an arcing pass into the middle of the box. Janelle Davis controlled it and had to adjust but blasted it toward the far post. Only Foster was there this time fully laid out for the save, one of four for her on the night.

The two five-minute overtimes passed quickly to set up the final drama.

The Bearcats, who have just three seniors on their roster, are eager to show the favorites that they belong not just at the top of the district but the state as well even if they have to go through Jackson to do it.

“It’s exciting,” Drew said. “We are really ready for them. We are not intimidated.”