3A girls soccer: Issaquah title a first

LAKEWOOD — Freshman Kate Deines just knew her Issaquah High School team needed to keep pushing and putting the pressure on.

Keep looking for one quick strike. And in essence, strike gold for the school's first state championship in girls soccer.

Deines looped a long pass behind the defense and found sophomore Lauren "Tygerr" Maris on a running header inside the left post as Issaquah stunned West Valley of Yakima 1-0 in overtime last night in the Class 3A championship match at Harry Lang Stadium.

The Eagles (18-3-0), in the title match for the first time since losing in 1988, gave coach Tom Bunnell a state championship in his first year as Issaquah coach. Issaquah, which had dominated most of the game, made one final push just 1:27 into overtime for Maris' 82nd-minute, game-winning goal.

"That's my first header goal," said Maris, who plays on a team known for its progress in the air and whose self-given nickname is spelled oddly, but pronounced 'Tiger.' "I knew it was coming and I just said, 'I'm going for that.' I just kind of like nodded.

"I don't know if the keeper (Amanda Tschauner) saw it. I think it was on her blind spot."

Undefeated coming in, Rams (20-1-1) didn't envision this result. Issaquah clearly had more chances, outshooting West Valley 25-7.

"There was a sense of domination, but West Valley is so strong defensively and so tenacious that you didn't get that sense," Bunnell said.

The pre-overtime talk from the Issaquah sideline was all about keeping the pressure on.

"We felt we had the upper hand for the whole game, so if we came out and put pressure on them in the first five minutes of overtime, we felt we'd be victorious," Deines said. "I just played the ball behind the defense so (Maris) could run onto it. Tygerr is an awesome player and I felt she had a chance to go get it."

John Schubert returned just before the season to coach the Rams after two years off. He stepped down after coaching the girls team to a state title in 2001.

West Valley also played in the 2000 title match, losing to Lakeside 1-0. Issaquah last reached state in 1988, dropping a 1-0 decision to Kennedy that year.

West Valley's Amanda Brusic put a scare into the Eagles' defense in the 45th minute. Brusic took a loose ball, fired from the left side about 15 yards out and forced Issaquah goalkeeper Lauren Davis to tip the shot over the crossbar. It was Davis' lone save of the game.

"Our goalkeeper makes one save and it's gigantic," Bunnell said.

Deines almost predicted the outcome, suggesting to Bunnell that the Eagles try to stretch the field with long passes. Turns out Deines made a pass 30 yards from the goal and Maris knocked it in from less than 10.

"She said before the overtime to look for the diagonal balls," Bunnell said. "Tygerr's very fast and a long strider. There she was in the back and all it took was a bad bounce to get to her."

Third-fourth places

Kennedy 1, Mount Rainier 0

Freshman midfielder Laissa Nuss knocked in a short rebound goal in the 76th minute after teammate Gabby Besaw's point-blank attempt was blocked as the Lancers (15-3-4) took third in the consolation final between Seamount League King Division powers.

Besaw's short shot, which was deflected, was set up when freshman Jackie Thomas sent in a short cross from the right side after she received a through ball from Courtney Cass.

About 3:51 later, the two teams would've been headed to overtime.

"It happened that I was in the right spot," said Nuss, one of two Kennedy freshman starters. "I'm just glad we came in third. It was a great experience as a freshman."

The win gave Kennedy a 2-0-1 record in three meetings with Mount Rainier (17-4-2). The Rams were back at state after a six-year streak was halted in 2003.

"It took us a while, but it's tough to play in these (consolation) games," JFK coach Doug Stamnes said. "They wanted to prove something to themselves and Mount Rainier. It's nice to be in the top four."

The teams traded excellent chances in the first half, but both came away scoreless in a physical and heated opening 40 minutes.

Kennedy featured a team with just four seniors — defender Sarah Jackson, defender Mary Varon, midfielder-forward Kristen Schroeder and midfielder Cass.

The Lancers, champions of the Seamount King Division, placed in the top four for the third season in a row. JFK was third in 2003 and first in 2002.

JFK goalkeeper Cris Lewis registered her ninth shutout of the season.