By Mike Maltais
The Liberty Bell High School varsity girls’ soccer team remains alive in the Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Tri-District race to state despite a third-round, 2-0 loss to the Brewster Bears at the Apple Cup in Wenatchee last Saturday (Nov. 8).
In what would turn out to be a critical difference, the Lady Lions took the pitch without the services of three key players: goalkeeper Lauren Ochoa and defender Anna Post, both out with concussions; and league Most Valuable Player Mia Kennedy. All three sustained their injuries in a loss to Okanogan on Tuesday (Nov. 4).
The way the Brewster game started out, it appeared the Apple Cup might have to replant the grass at midfield because so much of the first half action centered there.
With 22 minutes remaining in the first half, Liberty Bell’s Danielle Mott had a clear goal shot from 20 yards out. But Brewster’s keeper, Karina Guzman, made a solid stop to deny the point. Minutes later, Aden Jones also threatened for the Lady Lions, but again Guzman was there.
Early in the second half, the Lady Lions had a scare when a high kick directed at goalie Hannah Hogness slipped through her encircled arms like a basketball hoop and rolled back into play. Solid defensive play by Liberty Bell deflected another attempted Bears goal just before it reached Hogness.
Midway through the second half, Bears’ senior Daisy Gonzales broke away from the midfield pack and took the ball in for an unassisted score to give Brewster a 1-0 lead.
Liberty Bell responded with a determined effort to tie the game and pressured the Bears’ defense in range of the Brewster goal, but could not pull out a score.
With two minutes remaining on the game clock, Gonzales struck again for her second goal to put the Bears up, 2-0.
The Lady Lions took fourth at districts and, as fourth-seeded team from District 5/6/7, will next face Okanogan in a loser-out game that will determine whether Liberty Bell or the Bulldogs advance to the final four in Sumner. As of press time, the Okanogan/Liberty Bell contest will be played out at the Okanogan Sports Complex playfield either on Thursday (Nov. 13) at 2 p.m., or on Saturday (Nov. 15) at 1 p.m.
It will be the fourth meeting between Okanogan and the Lady Lions this season. During the regular season, Liberty Bell faced the Bulldogs on Oct. 2 in a 1-0 loss and again on Oct. 28 when the Lady Lions won a 2-1 double-overtime shootout.
On Nov. 4, the Bulldogs built on a 1-0 halftime lead to eventually defeat Liberty Bell, 3-0.
While the Lady Lions are busy at Okanogan, Brewster will be on the road at Adna. The winners of both games will meet at the state semifinals in Sumner at 4 p.m. on Nov. 21.
