CRESWELL — The third-seeded Creswell girls soccer team survived a soggy second-round Class 1A/2A/3A playoff at Markley Field on Tuesday night, holding off the No. 14-seeded Blanchet Catholic to 1-0 to reach the state semifinals.
“I think in the end, we were the better team. It didn’t show on the scoreboard, but it showed on the field,” co-head coach Colin Hay said.
The Cavaliers pressed hard on defense in the first 10 minutes.
“Once our nerves were calm, I felt like we kind of had it under control,” coach Brandi Wittenborn said. “We had way more shots on goals and more opportunities than they did. Also, we shut them down defensively.”
Through yellow cards and physical play, the Bulldogs and Cavaliers fought to a scoreless first half.
Senior Elliette Kinney took an open opportunity on the Cavaliers’ box and scored the game-winning goal on a low ball that hit the right corner of the net.
“I was thinking to myself, ‘You better make make this inside the post to win!’ It was exciting, especially as a senior,” she said. “Getting that last shot meant something – and it was fun.”
Kinney was a key presence on offense, drawing cheers from the crowd with multiple headers that narrowly missed the net.
Senior goalkeeper Kylie Leonard recorded 13 saves overall.
The Bulldogs then defeated Umatilla on Saturday. – handing the Vikings their first loss of the season.
