Gorillas grab third place

FEDERAL WAY-If it were the Olympics, each Gorilla soccer player would have returned from the West Side with a bronze medal around their necks for the team's third-place finish in the 1B/2B state playoffs that was achieved with a thrilling 4-3 victory over rival Northwest Christian Saturday, Nov. 18.

But as it stands in a non-Olympic event, Davenport will have to appreciate the third-place trophy it achieved at Federal Way High School last weekend that was the outcome of a 2-0 semifinal loss to Kalama and the overtime win over the Crusaders.

The No. 3 Gorillas faced the No. 2 Chinooks in the semis Friday, Nov. 17. And Kalama quickly showed why it was one of the top teams in the state, pushing two goals into the net in the 12th and 13th minutes courtesy of Josie Brandenburg.

The game was 2-0 at halftime, and despite no more goals allowed in the second half, Davenport couldn't find offense all match long against a stout Chinooks defense.

"They came out and just attacked us pretty early, and we knew they were gonna," Davenport head coach Monty Soliday said. "The first 10 minutes was probably our worst 10 minutes of almost the year. It was a talented team, so I don't want to take anything away from them, but we didn't play very well on the back end. (We) got down early, and once you get down early, they can change how they play and it turns into more of a stalling, defensive game."

Chances of a state title gone, Davenport still had a third-place trophy and a third-straight victory over rival Northwest Christian to play for last Saturday after the Crusaders fell to eventual state champion Crosspoint in the other semifinal match.

"Our girls went home really disappointed, and we had to light a spark to play Northwest Christian," goalkeeper Addie Schneider said. "Third place is better than fourth."

The Saturday morning affair was a true barnburner. NWC got a goal in the 14th minute off an Addison Fazio goal, then Glenna Soliday notched the equalizer with 12:57 left in the first half off a spectacular free kick into the top right corner of the net.

It wouldn't be her only goal.

After Clare Wichman gave the Crusaders the lead back with an impressive curving shot from the left side in the 32nd minute, Soliday responded from about 35 yards away in the 35th minute.

The match was 2-2 at halftime and could have been 3-3. An NWC header off a corner clanked off the left post and an ensuing Soliday breakaway sailed just high in stoppage time.

"I definitely think that the first half was really chaotic," Schneider said. "I mean, we beat Northwest Christian before, so we just had to keep our composure and keep playing our game."

Fazio got another goal in the 49th minute with a deep shot from about 40 yards away, and NWC led again. Soliday decided it was time for a hat trick 19 minutes later, converting off a corner to tie the match 3-3.

Wichman's last-second free kick bounced off the top post to send the match to a golden goal overtime.

And like she did all season, Soliday put the game away with her fourth goal on a straight-away shot from 20 yards away.

"It was my last game of the season and I wanted to end it on a win," Soliday said. "I wanted to win state, but getting one higher than fourth would be better than anything. That's what got me going."

Davenport finished the season 18-2, including 5-1 in postseason play. The Gorillas graduate seniors Jensyn Jacobsen, Emma Cormier and Samantha Odenrider, but are expected to return much of their roster otherwise for the 2024 season.

Author Bio

Drew Lawson, Editor

Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.

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