BY GERARDO BOLONG

Contributing Writer

PUYALLUP -  Kennedy battled long and hard before falling, 2-1, against Camas (which borders Washougal and Vancouver) to finish fourth in the 2017 WIAA/Dairy Farmers of Washington/Les Schwab Tires 4A girls state soccer action on Sat., Nov. 18.

It was the Lancer team's best finish since 2008.                                                                                                       

"We could have combined more, but battled every 50-50 ball and stuck to our plan the best they could," said head coach Michelle Beattie. 

Spacing well, Kennedy Catholic countered the Papermaker's quick striking attack with nicely spaced ground passing and rushes by Bailey Hall and Cece Crosby as the teams each had nil in the first half.

The Camas Papermakers created a headline on the scoreboard with 41:30 of elapsed time when Callie Rheamue slipped a pass by the Lancer keeper and Jazzlyn Paulson slipped the ball inside the right post.

Seconds later, Kennedy Catholic just missed wide right from five yards out.

Camas shifted into a higher gear and scored in the 50th minute on a great shot by  Rheaume. The 34-yard booming shot rocketed inside the right post into goal for a 2-0 cushion.

This cushion was halved when 58:10 showed on the scoreboard clock. Hall sliced a corner kick that slapped off the Papermaker keeper's hands into the goal.

Eleven minutes later, a Lancer shot struck was directed over the cross bar in a fire balling Lancer attempt to square the proceedings.

Unloading shots from numerous angles, KC pressured strongly, but was unable to notch the equalizer.

Kennedy Catholic out of Burien out shot Camas 10-7 in the second half to pull into a 14-14 draw at game's end.

Solid rock defense kept Kennedy contending all season, but the core team values played an even greater part of this squad's success. 

 "We had breakfast together and the team stayed together," Lancer head coach Michelle Beattie said. "This team was more of a family than any team I've coached. This team had the nature of family and the heart and love for each other."

The state player roster for Kennedy Catholic Burien (16-3-3) includes Sosna Araya, Alyssa Bernd, Kalina Cordero, Cece Crosby, Natalie DeGagne, Maille Duque, Cassidy Elicker, Maddy Etzkorn, Bailey Hall, Nina Hanney, Delaney Hayes, Zoe Kirkland, Lily Marino, Abby McBroom, Teryn Mendez, Isabel Moore, Ashley Nguyen, Jaclyn Seifert, Lauren Shoemaker, Hannah Titalii, Julie Trejo and Claire Varden. Rachel Silke was injured and unable to play.

Assisting head coach Michelle Beattie are Michelle Mohn, Cristin VanderPlas and Bill Hooper.

Sam Reed is the athletic director.