10/6/16
Rogers 0, Olympia 0
(Olympia, WA) The SPSL 4A is tremendously tough in all sports and Girls Soccer is no different. Puyallup has a bit of a cushion at the top of the standings going into tonight’s match with a 7-0-2 mark while the next 6 teams were separated by no more than 2 games with Olympia in 2nd at 6-2 and a tie for 5th between Emerald Ridge and South Kitsap at 4-4-1. Rogers was just in front at 5-4.
There was plenty on the line in this match and chance for each team and wins would be huge to post in their win columns. Rogers came out and pushed hard early in the first half but the Bears defense led by Olivia key and Keeper Carly Becker held the Rams at bay. The Bears would have a couple of solid counter attacks as well but the Rams keeper Taryn McCullough and defenders Amanda Hefton and Ally Brewer also rose to the challenge and the match went to the half scoreless.
The 2nd half would be 40 minutes of the same. The pace picked up and so did the chippiness. Both teams knew how important a win would be in the tight SPSL. As the defenses became entrenched and shut down with the ProActive Physical Therapy Play of the Game coming on Olympia’s best chance to score. McCullough was drawn out to try and block a shot but it got past her and looked like the Bears were going to punch it in when Bekah Barkley came along the backline and blocked it with her knee preserving the tie.
With 15 minutes to go the frustration and testiness was all the head official was going to put up with and issued a 2nd yellow card to Olympia’s Maddie Moen which resulted in a red card and the Bears were playing a player down for the rest of the match but the Rams could not take advantage and the 2 teams would stalemate and finish in a 0-0 tie.
After last night’s action Puyallup extended their lead with a 4-0 win over Emerald Ridge, Sumner got by South Kitsap 1-0 an d Curtis over Graham Kapowsin 2-0. So Puyallup is now 8-0-2, Olympia 6-2-1, Sumner 6-3-1, Bellarmine Prep 5-3-1, Rogers 5-4-1 while Emerald Ridge and South Kitsap remained tied at 4-5-1 while Curtis is 2-7-2 and GK is winless.
Our Tommy Lowe of the Greene Realty Group Players of the Game went to both keepers Taryn McCullough for Rogers and Carly Becker for the Bears.
Photo Gallery
www.elisportsnetwork.com
