Prep soccer: Season ends for ‘unlucky’ La Salle

November 13, 2011 by  

YAKIMA, Wash. — La Salle had more than enough opportunity.

What the Lightning lacked was a finishing kick.

In a match made all the more frustrating because of its numerous near-misses, La Salle lost a heartbreaking 1-0 decision to Cashmere in a state Class 1A girls soccer quarterfinal match on a cold Saturday afternoon at Marquette Stadium.

“We played so hard, we were just unlucky,” senior McKenzie Andringa said. “We had a lot of good opportunities … but things just did not go our way.”

As a result, La Salle (16-1-2) suffered its first defeat of the season while Cashmere (19-0-0) advances to next Friday’s state semifinals at Shoreline Stadium.

“I knew it would be a battle,” Cashmere coach Dennis Tronson said. “I’m just excited about where we’re at and where we’re headed.”

La Salle, meanwhile, was left to simply ponder, “What if?” as it suffered one agonizingly close call after another.

“I told the girls this is just one of days where you can’t get a shot to go in,” La Salle coach Felix Hernandez said. “We had a lot of open shots — particularly late — but we just didn’t get the lucky bounce.”

There were several good scoring chances for both sides, but while La Salle had a few more, outshooting Cashmere 14-7, it was the Bulldogs, thanks to a pair of freshmen, who were able to capitalize.

Five minutes into the second half, Breanne Knishka came down the center-right side of the field, with Tessa McCormick on her right flank.

Knishka fed a perfect pass to McCormick, who got past the defender for a one-on-one chance with La Salle goalie Stephanie Perez. As Perez came out to cut down the angle, McCormick fired a shot to the right of Perez and into the net.

“We told the defense to keep the ball in front of them, but (on that play) the defender came up and she (McCormick) just slides by and they take advantage,” Hernandez said.

Cashmere’s goal seemed to awaken La Salle, which had its best scoring chances after falling behind.

Those included a couple of point-blank shots where a Lightning player couldn’t quite get a good foot on the ball, a missed header in front of the goal, an Andringa free kick that went just over the crossbar, and a Margaret Busey free kick in the final minutes that banged off the crossbar with Grace Martin unable to gather in the rebound near the left post.

“After they scored, we really stepped up our play,” Andringa said. “We kept pushing and had a lot of good chances to score.”

Unfortunately, the Lightning couldn’t convert, resulting in a bitter finish to an otherwise stellar season.

“They have nothing to feel bad about,” Hernandez said of his players. “They didn’t play badly; sometimes you just can’t control it.

“They should feel proud. They had a great season.”

First half: No scoring.

Second half: 1, Cashmere, Tessa McCormick (Breanne Knishka), 45:00.

Saves: Suzy McCall (C) 11, Stephanie Perez (LS) 4.

Shots: Cashmere 7, La Salle 14. Fouls: Cashmere 12, La Salle 6. Corner kicks: Cashmere 4, La Salle 2. Offsides: Cashmere 2, La Salle 2.


Filed under All, La Salle, Soccer (Girls)

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