Soccer / Community College Women -- Tacoma Victory In Shootout Caps Unbeaten Season

BOTHELL - When the 1995 NWAACC soccer season ended, the Tacoma Community College women's team had won just twice in 14 games and lost most of its members to graduation. There just wasn't much reason for optimism. Or was there? A new coach and handful of talented recruits later, Tacoma found a winning formula. Yesterday, Tacoma completed an unbeaten season, beating Highline 3-0 for the NWAACC championship at Pop Keeney Stadium. The Titans finished their amazing turnaround season with a 20-0-2 record, scoring 85 goals along the way while giving up just 10.

First-year Coach Jerrod Fleury doesn't quite know how to explain the Tacoma turnaround.

"Nobody expected much from this team," Fleury said. "We kind of got everyone by surprise. It shows that hard work will pay off."

During the season, the Titans won with plenty of offense and a stingy defense - both of which Tacoma used against Highline.

Goalkeeper Karen Mingus recorded the shutout, and made several diving saves in the second half. For the season, Tacoma had 14 shutouts.

Tiffany Bratrud gave Tacoma a 1-0 lead at the 25th minute of the first half, but that's the only goal the Titans would get until late in the game.

"One goal isn't enough in a championship game," said Fleury, who coached last season at Lakes High School "We needed to get that second goal."

A.J. Fairburn gave Tacoma a 2-0 lead with four minutes left in the game on a booming 30-yard shot before Shelley Dickinson finished off the scoring off of a free kick in the final minute.

"Once we got that second goal, we felt comfortable," said Dickinson, one of the three players who returned from the two-win team. "It's just amazing to think where we were last year and think now we're the champs."

Tacoma beat Highline three times during the season, winning by a combined score of 11-0.

Tacoma 3, Highline 0 - (Goals - 1, Tacoma, Tiffany Bratrud 25th minute; 2, Tacoma, A.J. Fairburn 86th minute; 3, Tacoma, Shelly Dickinson 80th minute. Goalkeepers - Tacoma, Karen Mingus; Highline, Nichoel Turnidge. Records - Tacoma 20-0-2; Highline 15-6-1. Playoff MVP - A.J. Fairburn, Tacoma.)

Edmonds 2, Spokane 1 - Despite playing with only 11 players, Edmonds beat Spokane 2-1 in a shootout for third place. The game was a scoreless tie at the end of regulation. Three minutes into the first overtime period, at the 93:10 mark, Jennifer Barrett of Spokane converted a penalty kick to put the Sasquatch up 1-0. Two minutes later, Michelle Osborne tied it for Edmonds.

The game went to penalty kicks, where Ellie Gaeth's goal, coupled with a block by keeper Anna Torkelson, gave Edmonds the win.

Edmonds 2, Spokane 1 (Edmonds wins penalty-kick shootout 3-2. Goals - Edmonds, Michelle Osborne, 5:18 OT; Jennifer Barrett 3:10 OT; Edmonds shootout goals - Charity Hanson, Michelle Osborne, Ellie Gaeth; Spokane shootout goals - Jennnifer Barrett, Katie Snow.)

Seattle Times correspondent Luke Burbank contributed to this report.