By Chris Trujillo
Herald Writer
SHORELINE – Karen Ruhlman scored on the final-shot of a five-shot shootout Wednesday as Shorecrest bounced back after trailing twice to defeat Oak Harbor 3-2 in a Western Conference loser-out playoff at Shoreline Stadium.
Freshman Banimi Lawson scored two goals in a rare start for Shorecrest, which now plays Edmonds-Woodway on Friday at Edmonds Stadium to determine the league’s third and final state berth. Katy Nydam scored twice for Oak Harbor, at the nine-minute and 17th minute marks.
In the shootout, Shorecrest goalkeeper Susanna Barnes dove to her right on Oak Harbor’s initial kick and stopped Theresa Black’s low line drive. The Highlanders then converted all five of their shots.
“We don’t practice penalty kicks,” Shorecrest coach Gary Harris said. “I don’t think kicking a ball 12 yards out is a skill. It becomes a mental challenge.”
After falling behind 1-0 on Nydam’s first goal, Shorcrest’s Lawson split a pair of defenders near the goal-box and kicked the score-tying goal at the 11-minute mark.
Lawson, who played nearly the entire game – something she’s rarely seen this year – tied the score again in the second half. With 17:15 remaining, Ashley Baker’s corner kick landed at Lawson’s feet, allowing her to drill a point-blank shot into the goal to tie the score 2-2.
“The rush came over me,” Lawson said. “I just kept telling myself I have to score. The win was very big. Oak Harbor has a good team.
After 10 scoreless minutes of sudden death overtime play, the two teams went into the shootout where Ruhlman’s low, high-velocity shot preserved Shorecrest’s playoff life.
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