SILVERDALE — About the only element that could have stopped South Kitsap from advancing in the Class 4A state playoffs Wednesday night at Silverdale Stadium was the lights.
A power surge caused the field to go completely dark with 17:49 remaining in the second half. Once that issue was resolved 15 minutes later, the Wolves maintained their 2-0 win against Lake Stevens from 4A Wesco North.
South (12-3-2) now advances to play in the state quarterfinals for the second time in three seasons Saturday against Bellarmine Prep. Game time and location have not yet been announced. The teams split their regular-season meetings with the Wolves winning 2-1 on Sept. 27 at Bellarmine and losing 1-0 on Oct. 20 at home.
“We’re definitely stepping it back up,” South junior defender Christa Lane said.
Lane scored her second goal of the year from 35 yards out when the ball bounced once in the penalty spot and found its way past goalkeeper Kaiya Paulson in the seventh minute. Lane said she did not know she scored until she heard junior defender Shannon Beisley shout her name.
The Wolves got their first goal two minutes earlier when junior Becca Schoales took a pass from classmate Brita Oleson and scored when Paulson’s two-handed deflection sent the ball into the left corner of the net.
“Becca Schoales took over this game,” South coach Julie Cain said. “She was special.
“They were putting two players on her and there was no one that could stay with her.”
She said Schoales, who also played forward, started in midfield against the Vikings, who finished with a 15-6-0 record.
“It kind of depends on matchups,” Cain said. “I put her in midfield because she possesses the ball so well for us. Sometimes it helps us to get a rhythm. She calms us down and she’s great on the ball. In the playoffs, that’s what we need.”
The team also had lost some depth in the midfield with sisters Claire and Rose Posadas (concussion) out indefinitely.
“Claire broke her nose and cracked her skull,” Cain said. “She won’t be back this season.”
Despite their absence, South outshot Lake Stevens 11-6. Cain said she believes her team could have scored more, but their intensity waned after the two early goals.
“I think the girls thought we had it in the bag … we didn’t keep scoring goals,” she said.
Perhaps the Vikings’ best opportunity came in the 32nd minute when senior goalkeeper Bri Smallige, who will play next year at Seattle University, made a one-armed save on a shot by forward Tahyler Williams.
“Bri Smallige again took some goals away from them,” Cain said.
She attributed the Wolves’ strong play to their competition in the 4A Narrows, where they finished in fourth place.
“Our league is the toughest in the three years I’ve been here,” Cain said. “Our pace was faster than theirs and I think it’s because of the league we play in.”
It was the second straight win for the Wolves outside of their league. Freshman forward Adri Jackson scored Saturday in her first varsity start, the goal coming in the 62nd minute on an assist from Schoales to help South defeat 4A Greater Saint Helens League champion Skyview at Vancouver’s Kiggins Bowl.
State playoffs
First round at Silverdale Stadium
South Kitsap 2, Lake Stevens 0
First half—1, South Kitsap, Becca Schoales (Brita Oleson), 5th minute; 2, South Kitsap, Christa Lane, 7th.
