Rebounding from a tough loss at Archbishop Murphy Tuesday, the Oak Harbor High School soccer team slipped by Shorewood 3-2 Thursday, Oct. 3, at Wildcat Memorial Stadium.
The Wildcats (2-6, 3-7) play Mountlake Terrace (0-6, 1-7) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Edmonds Stadium.
Archbishop Murphy 1, Oak Harbor 0
It was Oak Harbor’s second recent 1-0 loss to one of the Western Conference’s leaders. The Wildcats fell to Edmonds-Woodway Sept. 26, and the Warriors (6-1, 8-1) and Archbishop Murphy (6-1-1, 7-2-1) sit atop the league standings.
The Oak Harbor/Murphy match was tied 0-0 at halftime, then the host school scored on “an unlucky bounce for us,” Wildcat coach Mike Lonborg said.
“We pushed hard and had some chances, but things didn’t bounce our way,” he added. “The entire team is playing defense and really working hard. (There is) no give-up in them.”
Oak Harbor 3, Shorewood 2
The two teams traded goals, but Oak Harbor recorded the first and last to collect its second league win.
Peyton Rhyne got Oak Harbor on the board when she received a booming kick from goalie Tiana Jackson and flicked it in for the score.
After the Thunderbirds tied it up, Gracie Hiteshew, up from the defense, scored off Natalie Plush’s corner kick to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead at the break.
Again Shorewood knotted the match, then Morgan Lamar scored off Plush’s free kick to seal the win.
“The girls just kept bouncing back and didn’t give up,” Lonborg said.
The Wildcats were stung by several injuries, but the next girl “stepped up,” Lonborg said. “They just kept working. Strong team effort.”
Gracie Hiteshew boots the ball for the Wildcats. (Photo by John Fisken)
Keeper Tiana Jackson puts the ball back in play against Shorewood. (Photo by John Fisken)
Morgan Lamar takes possession for Oak Harbor. She later scored the game-winning goal for the Wildcats. (Photo by John Fisken)
Olivia Lerch controls the ball in the win over Shorewood. (Photo by John Fisken)
Natalie Plush receives a pass. She registered two assists in the match. (Photo by John Fisken)
Peyton Rhyne fights Shorewood’s Jadyn Smith for possession. (Photo by John Fisken)
