BELLEVUE
Early Saturday morning rain broke over Interlake High School, thoroughly soaking the soccer field.
A few hours later, King’s washed 2005 state champion Seattle Academy right out of the playoffs.
King’s (15-6-1) scored three unanswered goals in the second half for a 4-1 victory over Seattle Academy in the 1A/2B/1B state playoffs at Interlake High School in Bellevue on Nov. 10.
“We stayed in our game, we were patient and persistent,” King’s head coach Nicole Gabelein said of her team, which doubled Seattle Academy’s shots on goal by halftime.
For the second year in a row, King’s will move on to the state semifinals, 6 p.m. Friday at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner. The Knights (15-6-1) will face a familiar foe there: Northwest Conference rival Meridian.
“They won the division in 2006, we won it this year,” Gabelein said. “We beat them 1-0 (to win the district), they beat us 1-0 (in the bi-district championship). We’re excited to play them again.”
For the first half of the game Saturday, moving on was anything but assured.
Seattle Academy’s Achijah Berry scored just five minutes into the game off an assist from Sierra Keeler to take an early 1-0 lead. Despite outshooting the Cardinals 12-6 in the first half, King’s didn’t score until the 31st minute, when a corner kick from midfielder Kendall Thoreson led to a goal by Christina McCormick. King’s goalie Carolyn Dapper made a tough catch off junior Mani Hooyman’s header in the 17th minute, and had a diving save in the 23rd minute to send the game to halftime tied 1-1.
King’s senior Beka Lampe, who appeared to take an errant elbow in the first half, iced her face during the break.
“This is an aggressive team, we’re capable of taking it to the next level,” Gabelein said.
They did.
Seven of the first eight shots in the second half were taken by King’s players, and the Knights finished with a 12-4 advantage.
The Knights wore Seattle Academy down with a variety of good looks until Julia Crosby scored off an assist from Paige Johnson with 21:00 remaining for King’s first lead of the game, 2-1.
Four minutes later, after a pushing call against Seattle Academy, Thoreson floated an untouchable 30-yard shot off the dead ball up and over Seattle Academy’s goalie for a 3-1 lead and a little breathing room.
“That was an incredible shot,” Gabelein said.
It was Thoreson’s only goal of the game, but her aggressive play, along with the forwards and the rest of the midfield, led to another big disparity in shots on goal in the second half.
Seattle Academy threatened twice deep in King’s goalie box following Thoreson’s goal, but Cardinal midfielder Makenzie Brandon’s header went wide left, ending the rally, and King’s standout Hillary Zevenbergen capped the victory with a goal in the 68th minute to make it 4-1.
Crosby and McCormick each finished with one goal and one assist for King’s.
King’s finished third in state last year after losing to Seattle Christian in the semi-finals.
“The team is looking good: strong (play from) midfield, strong defense.” Gabelein said. “Everybody has stepped up.”
Alex Bosworth writes for The Herald in Everett.
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