Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Gorillas to play for state title
Davenport eighth-grader Charlotte Soliday tries to keep the ball in play against Cle Elum/Roslyn in the B State Quarterfinals at Freeman High School Saturday, Nov. 11
VALLEYFORD - Davenport soccer had a hurdle to overcome if it was going to advance to play for the second state title in program history: the team that knocked the Gorillas out of the playoffs last season. And thanks to a game winning goal by Glenna Soliday, No. 3 Davenport leaped that hurdle with a 2-1 state quarterfinal victory over No. 6 Cle Elum/Roslyn at Freeman High School Saturday, Nov. 11.
With the win, Davenport advanced to the state semifinals at Federal Way High School this weekend.
The Warriors came to Eastern Washington after dusting off No. 11 Adna 3-1 in the first round of the state playoffs and loomed as the team that topped Davenport 1-0 in the first round last season.
But this season's Davenport team proved to be different.
Both team's defenses held strong against powerful attacks in the game's first 20 minutes. The offenses tried to press the issue, but each back line shut the door every time.
That continued seven minutes later when Soliday broke away for what seemed like an easy goal before Caroline Smith made a tremendous leaping save to keep the game scoreless.
But Davenport finally broke through on a familiar, sisterly connection when Charlotte Soliday dribbled a pass to Glenna Soliday, who tapped the ball in to give the Gorillas a 1-0 lead with 4:13 left in the first half.
"It wasn't my best shot, but I just took it to the far post and got it," Glenna Soliday said.
That lead held into halftime, but not for much longer. Cle Elum got the equalizer 90 seconds into the second half when Mia Vroman squeezed a shot past Addie Schneider to tie the match 1-1.
A punch away save by Schneider prevented the Warriors from taking the lead moments later.
"That was probably the fastest game we've played all year," Davenport head coach Monty Soliday said. "Just speed-wise and playing balls. But they were energized, and we kind of quelled it for a little bit."
Back and forth went both teams for 30 minutes. Glenna Soliday appeared to have given Davenport the lead with 9:39 left, but her goal was negated after she was ruled offsides.
As the clock struck two minutes, the game seemed destined for overtime. But then, Glenna Soliday arced in the winner in the final moments from the right side of the field.
"I aimed for the far post," Glenna Soliday said. "I'm left footed, so it helped me aim for the far post and I scored it."
The Gorillas will take on No. 2 Kalama in the state semifinals at 5 p.m. Friday. Nov. 17.
With a win, Davenport would advance to the state championship game at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 against the winner of the other semifinal matchup between Crosspoint and Northwest Christian.
A state title would be the second in program history after the Gorillas won state in 2019.
The losers of each semifinal game will play a third/fourth place game at 11 a.m. Saturday morning.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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