TACOMA – West Valley had been shooting for a perfect season, and went into the 2A State Soccer Championship 21-0 on Nov. 18 at Mount Tahoma Stadium.
The Eagles would find their first loss of the season against Ridgefield, who beat them 3-2 after winning the penalty kick shootout 3-1.
West Valley’s season still took them further than their team had gone before, and they brought home the second-place prize. This Eagle team is also the first team to make it to the championship game, and this is only the second soccer trophy for the West Valley girls’ program.
The number one seed Eagles faced the seven seed Spudders from Ridgefield, and both schools were vying for their first championship trophy.
Both teams hit the field in championship fashion as well, playing with intensity.
High powered offenses kept the game going back and forth for most of the first half, and the Spudders were able to pressure the stout Eagle defense.
West Valley hadn’t had their defense pressured like that all year long, but the aggressive gameplan paid off for the Spudders.
Ridgefield did receive a yellow card with 17 minutes left in the half, as the game became more physical with each minute.
In the 30th minute, Genesis Willis took a free kick for West Valley, and she got the ball to Junior Midfielder Ashlyn Chase to headed the ball in for the first goal of the game.
West Valley’s field speed was an issue for Ridgefield, but the Spudders didn’t back down. Ridgefield was taking a lot of shots on goal from far out, which Aubrey Lobdell was able to pick up easily for the Eagles.
However, the Spudders mounted their comeback in the second half. Taking their third corner kick of the day, Ridgefield was able to find the equalizing goal in the 57th minute.
West Valley battled back and went up 2-1 when Kyia Silva knocked the ball into the back of the net 66 minutes into the game.
The game was tied again with only five minutes to go when Ellie Wilson blasted a shot past Lobdell.
The game was tied, and two overtime periods went scoreless so it came down to a penalty kick shootout.
The shootout was close, and was tied at 1-1 through three shots. The Spudders would make their next two shots though, and West Valley missed, giving Ridgefield the win and their first state championship.
West Valley certainly played a season to be proud of as they brought home the second place trophy, and the first girls’ soccer trophy since 2007.
Matthew graduated from West Virginia University-Parkersburg in 2011 with a journalism degree. He's an award-winning photographer and enjoys writing stories about people.
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