By Jim Allen, nwprepsnow.com
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Postseason soccer is a new experience for these Gonzaga Prep players, but they’re adjusting just fine.
Facing their second straight shootout in as many games, and with a state tournament berth on the line, the Bullpups came through again Thursday night with a 2-1 regional win over University at Bullpup Stadium.
“It’s been awhile, so it’s a great feeling,”said Prep goalkeeper Zoe Boleneus, who gave up just one goal in the shootout to give the Bullpups their 13th straight win and guarantee home-field advantage for a first-round 4A state match next week.
It will be Prep’s first state appearance since 2011, when the Pups lost to Tahoma in the first round.
Next up is the regional title match Saturday against visiting Chiawana, which defeated Ferris 2-1 in the other semifinal. U-Hi (12-6) and Ferris (9-8) will play Saturday for the third seed at state, with the loser being eliminated.
For about eight minutes Thursday night, it appeared the Bullpups might be heading for the loser-out game. After 63 scoreless minutes, U-Hi’s Julia Adair took a pass 15 yards out with her back to the goal, then pivoted and drilled a right-footed shot under the crossbar to give the Titans a 1-0 lead.
The Bullpups have rarely trailed on the way to a 14-2 record, but they were ready.
“That’s the position we’ve trained even though we haven’t felt that a lot in the last 12 games,” coach Billy Barmes said. “We responded exactly how I would expect them to.”
Eight minutes later, University of Portland-bound senior Larkin Russell took a pass at the top of the penalty box, dribbled diagonally toward the left side of the field, then suddenly left-footed the ball.
The arcing shot nestled just under the bar and out of the reach of Titans keeper Ryann Rydeen for a 1-1 tie.
“All I could think about was that my team needed me,” said Russell. “There was no way we were losing that game.”
The Bullpups pressed forward for the rest of regulation play and two overtimes, and carried that momentum into the shootout.
A week after beating Central Valley in a shootout at district, the Bullpups came through again with even more on the line. One U-Hi shooter put her shot over the crossbar, but Boleneus saved two other shots, one with a nice dive to her left.
G-Prep made two of its first three shots, from Tayler Dryan and Russell, leaving the fourth shooter, Annie Clark to clinch the state berth with a perfect shot into the right corner.
Prep dominated the action early, its best chance coming in the 17th minute on Russell’s pass across the goalmouth that went untouched.
U-Hi outshot Prep 14-13. Boleneus made 11 saves and Rydeen had 12.