EdCC women in soccer semis

The Edmonds Community College women’s soccer team is going to find out just how its defense matches up against the league’s top teams.

The defensive-minded Tritons are headed back to the NWAACC semifinals for the fourth time in the last five years.

Edmonds defeated Highline 4-0 in last weekend’s quarterfinals to move on to the final four. Four different players — Shannal Cruver (Snohomish), Elissa Evans (Woodinville), Sinead Hennessy (Snohomish) and Katie Ellis (Jackson) scored goals, while the Tritons’ defense recorded its 11th shutout of the season.

“We normally get different goal scorers,” said Edmonds coach Teddy Mitalas said. “I like the way they played together.”

The Tritons have allowed only nine goals all season.

“Their (Highline) leading scorer couldn’t get a shot on us,” said Mitalas. “We have a good defense. That’s the big key.”

Edmonds (10-4-3) faces Tacoma (9-7-3), an upset-winner over Northeast Division champion Walla Walla, at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 20) at the Starfire Soccer Complex in Tukwila.

The winner then plays either Spokane or Clackamas in the championship game at 2 p.m. Sunday, while the losers of both semifinals face off at 10 a.m. in the consolation contest.

Tacoma defeated Edmonds earlier in a preseason game in which both teams were not at full strength.

This year’s Tritons definitely are a team that is defensive-minded, Mitalas said. Edmonds scored only 32 goals during the regular season, placing it in the middle of the pack goal-wise in its division.

“We don’t score very many goals,” Mitalas said. “We wins games on defense. I’ve said that as long as we have a good defense we can win a championship.”

Edmonds captured NWAACC titles in 2001 and 2003 and finished second in 2002.

Freshman goalkeeper Tricia McMillan, a Meadowdale graduate, was a welcome addition to the team.

“She’s vocal and has a good punt,” Mitalas said. “That adds a lot to our team.”

Evans anchors the defense but the entire group works well together.

“The one thing I like is they all talk back there,” Mitalas said. “They’ve got good speed. They don’t let very many people break in between them.”

Toward the end of the season Edmonds was battling injuries and with only 16 players on the roster, depth was somewhat of a concern for Mitalas, especially on offense.

But the Tritons are back at full strength and are ready to make a strong run for another title.

Cruver, Jill Terrell (Marysville) and Rebecca Carlson (Cascade) give Edmonds a solid offensive attack.

“We’ve switched the line up a little bit,” Mitalas said. “It’s nice to put players in different positions … we have three good, solid forwards.”

EDCC MEN OUT: The Edmonds Community College men’s soccer team lost to South Puget Sound 3-1 in a NWAACC quarterfinal game Nov. 13. Damon Parot scored the lone goal for the Tritons.