HS Soccer: Mountain View Claims GSHL 3A League Title With Win Over Kelso

10/15/24

Mountain View 2, Kelso 1

(Kelso, WA) Twelve days had passed since the Mountain View Thunder and Kelso Highlanders met on the soccer field in the first leg of league play. In that match, it was Mountain View coming away with a 2-1 win and sole possession of first place in the 3A Greater St. Helens League. Tuesday night was a chance for Kelso to get that one back and draw even atop the league standings. However, for Mountain View it was a shot to wrap up the league title once and for all in 2024.

Throughout the majority of the first half, it was Mountain View with the higher quantity of shots but Kelso had the higher quality of shots. Both keepers stood their ground as the Thunder’s Izabela Steinborn and the Highlanders’ Makenna Fitzpatrick kept things scoreless with some tricky saves both ways. A bulk of the half took place in the neutral third with neither side really dominating possession time. Late in the half, a foul was called inside the 18-yard box giving Mountain View a penalty kick and an opportunity at a halftime lead. Stepping up for the Thunder would be Teaghan Irvin and she would drill the shot in the 36th minute. That goal lifted the Mountain View spirits at the break with the Thunder leading Kelso 1-0 at halftime.

In the second half, Kelso took control of the match and controlled possession early. Kelso also got extra aggressive on their attacks led by Karsyn Ross and Karsyn Hall. Mountain View’s back line continued to fend off every Kelso attack to preserve the 1-0 lead. Camila Cruz-Gutierrez and Lauren Adams led the defense for the Thunder, but in the 52nd minute, Kelso got their equalizer. What initially looked like a cross from Maya Swanson ended up tucking in the top-right corner of the net for the goal. Kelso’s aggression paid off as they evened things up at 1-1.

It would not last for too long for Kelso as Mountain View ended up with a breakaway. Jaleyah Pitre had a few tough looks but this time it was her one-on-one with the goalie. Pitre would win that battle and fired the go-ahead goal in the 61st minute to make it 2-1 Thunder. Kelso would put some more good looks together, but the defense of Mountain view was just too much. The Thunder hung on for the final 20 minutes to earn the 2-1 win and the GSHL 3A league title.

Our Elisportsnetwork.com MVP of the match went to Izabela Steinborn for Mountain View. The Thunder keeper had to fend off some good looks while Mountain View got going in the first half. Late in the match, Kelso put more pressure on the senior but Steinborn made perfect reads and kept the ball out of the net for the most part.

With the win, Mountain View moves to 7-6-1 overall but a perfect 6-0 in GSHL 3A play. The win wraps up the league title for the Thunder but they will celebrate it as well as senior night on Thursday when they host Evergreen at 7pm. Kelso drops to 10-3-1 and 4-2 in league play. The Highlanders will try to get some positive momentum back on their side on Tuesday when they visit Evergreen at 6pm.

Link to watch full game replay on the NFHS Network (subscription required)