By Gerardo Bolong

KENT - On cool, dry, Nov. 5th night at French Field,the Seattle Christian High School Warrior girls soccer heated up its after burners in the second half to jet past the Falcons of South Whidbey, 2-0, in a first 1A round match up of the 1A Tri-District 1/2/3 tournament to earn an 8 p.m. encounter against Cedar Park Christian (Bothell) in a winner-to-fifth seed at state game at Orting Middle School on Novv. 7th.
"In the first half, we probably had better passes, but the girls played great the whole game," said Warrior head coach Melissa Dunckley. "In the second half, we created more opportunities and finished on more shots. Their goal keeper made some great stops."

First half action featured the Warriors (16-2) of the Nisqually League spreading out nicely for ball possession ground passes that produced constant side-to-side movement with nice switching action. SCS constantly carried the fight into South Whidbey (4-10) territory, but was unable to light up the scoreboard with any points. Creating good opportunities o9n each side and in close range in front of the net, Seattle Christian did everything but finish.

Abigail Kim and Shaina Mitchell, among other SCS stalwarts, led numerous charges at the Falcon goal without the finishing touches as the squads ended the first half deadlocked at 0-0.

Opening the second half with extra energy, the Warriors briefly gave South Whidbey a respite during which the Falcons posed a short, but dangerous threat in the 44th minute. A deflected shot nearly bounced behind the Seattle Christian defense in the 44th minute before the ball was narrowly cleared out.

After this, South Whidbey made its presence more strongly felt before ever attacking Warriors took over the game for good.

By the 50th minute Seattle Christian's ball possession finally ended with a goal. It was forward Ally Zimmer who broke free in the middle to loft a 19-yard kick that just cleared the elevating goal keeper to nestle in the right corner of the net for a 1-0 Warrior lead.

"We all knew we could do it," said Zimmer. "I just took my time to clear the goal keeper."

With the Warrior attacks growing more deadly by the minute, Mitchell bolted into the center of the field, taking her time to set up and chip a goal-scoring kick into the right side of the net at the 56th minute in the same style with same effect as the initial goal.

"I just focused on space," noted Mitchell. "I took my time and saw how the keeper played it before I shot."

In the 61st minute, Payton Hibbard nearly scored from close-in from the Seattle Christian motion offense. SCS kept the South Whidbey goal under siege without any further scoring until the final the final whistle.

Erin Swain earned the shut out from her keeper position for the Warriors.