By Mike Maltais
The Liberty Bell High School varsity girls’ soccer team took a step closer to a return trip to state with a 5-0 shutout over the visiting Entiat Tigers last Saturday (Nov. 9).
Playing what coach Erik Olson called “their best control game so far this season,” the Lady Lions held much of the action to Entiat’s side of the field as Liberty Bell scored three times in the first half and twice more in the second to keep their playoff hopes alive.
One of the loneliest jobs in the valley last Saturday had to belong to Liberty Bell’s goalkeeper, as Entiat rarely got the ball into scoring range and did not take a shot on goal all afternoon.
In the first half, Lauren Fitzmaurice took a pass from Danielle Mott and shuttled it on to Mia Kennedy, who lined a shot behind Entiat’s goalkeeper for Liberty Bell’s first point. Kennedy was back a short time later for a second unassisted score that brushed the goalie’s glove on the way into the net.
Senior co-captain Tulie Budiselich finished out the scoring in the first half with a net-finding drive of her own. Fitzmaurice broke away from defenders in the second half to score Liberty Bell’s fourth point and Estrella Corrigan put the game on ice with a final penalty kick.
Elsewhere in District 6 1B/2B action, the Bridgeport Fillies were shutting out Oroville, 6-0, to preserve their unbeaten streak at 8-0 and remain at the top of the league standings.
The 6-2 Lady Lions will meet Bridgeport in the deciding loser-out game Saturday (Nov. 16) to determine which team advances to the state championships at Sunset Stadium in Sumner on Nov. 22-23.
It will be the biggest test faced by the young Lady Lions so far this season as the scrappy Fillies managed to defeat Liberty Bell, 2-1, at home Oct. 10 and 5-4 in overtime penalty kicks at Bridgeport on Oct. 24.
All-League soccer honors bestowed on 7 Lady Lions
By Mike Maltais
They may only be eighth graders and freshmen, but five members of the Liberty Bell High School varsity girls’ soccer team were impressive enough on the pitch this season to be named, along with two senior Lady Lions, to the Central Washington 2B 2013 All-League soccer teams.
Eighth graders Haley Post and Corrine Dietz and freshmen Mia Kennedy, Lauren Fitzmaurice and Danielle Mott joined seniors Hannah Hafsos and Kathleen Chavey-Reynaud on the soccer coaches’ All-League roster.
Post was recognized as a First Team defender along with Aisha Herrejon and Samantha Martinez of Bridgeport and Rubio Portillo of Manson.
Kennedy was selected as one of four midfielders to the First Team together with Yesenia Ramirez from Entiat and Jenny Salazar and Alba Robles from Bridgeport.
Fitzmaurice joined Entiat senior Alexis Swearingen as a First Team striker. Mott received Second Team honors as a defender along with Anna Spencer and Sandy Hernandez of Entiat and Paula Soto of Bridgeport.
Dietz and Ayana Herrejon of Bridgeport were named Second Team strikers.Hafsos was recognized as an Honorable Mention at the goalkeeper position.
Chavey-Reynaud and Kali Peters of Oroville got Honorable Mention nods as defenders.Sarah Rios of Bridgeport was voted All-League Most Valuable Player.
Liberty Bell coach Erik Olson, who stepped into the vacancy left by Mike Wilson, was recognized for Coaching Staff of the Year. The team sportsmanship award went to the Oroville Hornets.
Liberty Bell plays at Bridgeport on Saturday (Nov. 16) at 1 p.m.
