Soccer teams flock to state

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Although the Hockinson girls soccer team wasn’t able to reach the district title game, the Hawks didn’t let their final opportunity to get to the 2A state tournament slip away Saturday.

Hockinson beat Black Hills of Olympia 2-0 to finish in third place at districts and qualify for state. Ellie Seekins scored a goal in the second minute and Alyssa Pfaender added a goal in the 47th minute. After the Hawks gave up the first goals in games against Mark Morris and Ridgefield earlier in the week, head coach Joe Chicks was happy to get the lead right off the bat.

“We were tired of getting punched in the mouth,” he said. “The last two games, we had gotten down. We wanted to get on the board early. Our whole thing was the first five minutes. First five minutes, we better score. And we did.”

Hockinson couldn’t get anything to go in the net against Mark Morris in the semifinals and lost 2-0. The Hawks bounced back by defeating Ridgefield 4-3, but needed three goals in the final 22 minutes to do it.

“We’re such a young team and we’re learning. We’re just trying to preach resilience and working hard,” Chicks said. “We can’t think too far ahead. Let’s get to this 

(state) tournament and then I think we can make some noise.

“I know they’re motivated,” he added. “Just getting to this tournament was not their ultimate goal.” 

Hockinson (16-5) faces Sehome (16-2) at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the first round of state at Civic Stadium in Bellingham.

Falcons continue dream season

Prairie High School seniors Savannah Harshberger, Malaika Quigley and Sydney Weber achieved their dream of winning four straight league championships.

As those three Falcon captains prepare for their fourth state tournament this week, they’re dreaming about playing in the Final Four for a trophy.



Prairie (11-5-3) hosts Shorecrest (11-4-4) at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the first round of state.

Although Prairie lost to Gig Harbor 3-0 in the finals of the 3A bi-district tournament Saturday, the Falcons still finished in second place and earned a trip to state.

Prairie outlasted Bonney Lake 2-1 in the semifinals Nov. 1. Quigley got the Falcons on the board on a penalty kick in the second half, but Bonney Lake tied the score to force overtime. The game went to a shootout, where Prairie prevailed 4-3.

Maya Davis and Alyssa Talkington scored two goals to lead the Falcons to a 5-1 victory against Timberline in the first round Oct. 30 at Prairie High School. Paige Darley joined the fun by netting the fifth goal in the last three minutes of the match.

“It was just so exciting,” Talkington said. “It was our home turf. We wanted to win. We were up by two, we got scored on, kind of got down for a second, but once we scored again, I think that just set the tone. And then, we just worked and worked and got more goals.”

Timberline goalkeeper Abigail Pedro denied the Falcons on their first two shots at the net, but Prairie continued to pursue. In the 38th minute, Davis chipped the soccer ball by two defenders and Talkington slashed it into the side pocket for a goal.

“I didn’t think it was going to make it to her. I thought the defender was going to block the ball, but I toe-poked it to her,” Davis said.

Davis cashed in on a golden opportunity to give Prairie a 2-0 advantage with six minutes left in the first half. Timberline snuck in a goal just before halftime, but that only seemed to fire up the Falcons.

Prairie came out more aggressive in the second half. Davis and Talkington delivered their second goals, Darley added a third goal in the half and the Falcons glided to victory.

“I was pretty excited because I usually don’t score goals. I’m more of a defensive player,” Davis said. “I just really wanted to win this game.”