EV girls claim berth in Class 2A final four

YAKIMA — It’s back to the final four for the East Valley girls soccer team.

After three years of falling in the first round, the Red Devils are returning to the Class 2A state semifinals for the first time since their runner-up finish in 2004.

Kaylah Gonzales netted a goal in the final minutes to lift East Valley to a 2-1 victory against Pullman in quarterfinal action Friday night at Earl Barden Sr. Stadium.

The Red Devils (17-3) will meet the winner of today’s quarterfinal between Cedarcrest and Cheney at noon at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood.

“This team has grown a lot the last few weeks,” East Valley coach Gary Mellick said. “We’ve been peaking at the right time; it’s just an unbelievable feeling to get to that final four.”

Red Devil junior Adrianna Jones scored her team-leading 28th goal of the year in the 36th minute of the first half for the game’s first goal. Gonzales, also an 11th-grader, assisted on the play.

The Greyhounds knotted the score when Kendra Heim scored in the 53rd minute. It remained tied until Gonzales netted a Sarah Reifel pass for her 22nd of the year.

Amanda Freisz made three saves in goal for EV.

This is the Red Devils’ third berth into the state semifinals. EV defeated Naches Valley for its first state championship in 2000, but fell to Eatonville in the title game in 2004.

First half: 1. EV, Adrianna Jones (Kaylah Gonzales), 36:00.

Second half: 2. Pullman, Kendra Heim, 53:00; 3. EV, Gonzales (Sarah Reifel), 77:00

Saves: Amanda Freisz (EV) 3. Emily Van Orden (P) 4.