BLHS GIRLS SOCCER: Camas uses experience to boot Panthers from tourney

Published 1:06 pm Monday, November 16, 2009

The Bonney Lake High Panthers entered the West Central III/Southwest IV District soccer tournament as the No. 1 seed, while Camas was forced to settle for the No. 8 entry.

But the Papermakers from southwestern Washington have been regular participants in the Class 3A state tournament. Camas, which won a 3A state title in 2005, has made eight tournament appearances since 2000.

Camas used its tournament experience to register a 2-0, tournament victory over the Panthers Nov. 10 at Sunset Chev Stadium.

With a steady rain falling, both teams played aggressive on both sides of the ball with elimination from the tournament at stake.

Bonney Lake’s Hilary Colbert and Kassandra Blakely missed shots in the fourth and 17th minutes of play, respectively.

Camas also attacked early, but Panther goalkeeper Rendi Johnson came up with stops in the 12th and 13th minutes.

The Papermakers finally connected for a 1-0 lead as Olivia Lovell scored off a Louisa Pendergast assist in the 27th minute.

Tempers flared at times, resulting in several free kicks, and the Panthers’ Colbert and Tesla Pappas were victims of yellow cards in the final two minutes of the first half.

“It was the officials’ job to set the tone and they didn’t want the game to get out of hand,” Panther coach Luke Helling-Christy said.

Bonney Lake was unable to get an easy shot at the goal. Camas was able to keep possession of the ball and keep the Savanna Moorehouse, the Panthers’ leading scorer, in check.

Moorehouse was playing with a bruised right foot, Helling-Christy said.

Meanwhile, the Papermakers offense kept attacking until the final buzzer and Helling-Christy had to change his offensive strategy.

“We abandoned our stopper position and moved Savanna up as a withdrawn forward, not as high as Hilary and the center midfielder,” Helling-Christy explained. “At the 20-minute mark we started to send a defender every time we got the ball and went smaller on defense. We were trying anything to get something in the net.”

The Panthers, scrambling to score a goal, put together several scoring threats in the final 20 minutes. Bonney Lake had a penalty kick in the 63rd minute and a corner kick in the 77th minute.

Camas goalkeeper Andrea Soderberg had one save – a Bonney Lake kick in the 78th minute of play.

“We’ll be back next season,” Helling-Christy said.

The Panthers ended the season 14-2-2, and eight of the 11 starters should return next season.