EVERETT — Once again, the Archbishop Murphy girls soccer team will have to navigate a slightly longer road to reach the 2A state tournament.
With a state berth on the line, the Wildcats took the lead against Lake Washington, but couldn’t knock the visitors out, and the Kangeroos won a penalty shootout to prevail 2-1 in a district semifinal match.
Talia Daigle put Archbishop Murphy in front in the 29th minute. Cali Crisler’s throughball sprung Daigle on a breakaway and the freshman tucked it in the right corner past Kangaroos goalie Maeve O’Connor.
However, the Wildcats couldn’t extend their lead despite creating some good scoring chances according to head coach Mike Bartley.
“We outshot them 13-6 and we had some really chances at the beginning of the second half,” said Bartley. “We could’ve put the game away, but we didn’t take the chances well.”
Lake Washington made Archbishop Murphy pay for the lack of finishing when Michelle May tied the match in the 65th minute.
In the shootout, both teams converted their first two chances and missed the third, but Murphy couldn’t score again and the Kangaroos won 4-2 to advance to the district finals and send Murphy into the consolation bracket.
The defeat was the Wildcats’ first of the season, ending a 17-game winning streak. It also mirrored Murphy’s loss to Squalicum last season in the district semifinals. That team rebounded with two straight wins to make the state tourney.
“We know what’s ahead of us and what’s at stake,” said Bartley.
At Everett Memorial Stadium
Goals—Talia Daigle (AM), Michelle May (LW). Assists—Cali Crisler (AM), Holly Styant-Browne (LW). Goalkeepers—Lake Washington: Maeve O’Connor. Archbishop Murphy: Crissy Talley. Records—Lake Washington 9-6-3 overall. Archbishop Murphy 17-1-0.
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