SHORELINE — The Squalicum Storm won the Class 2A state girls soccer championship in dramatic fashion Saturday, scoring in the 73rd minute to beat the Shorecrest Scots 2-1 at Shoreline Stadium.
The Storm (23-0-1) scored the game-winner off a corner kick from midfielder Michelle Saunders, whose cross was headed into the back of the net by forward Kim Dorr.
“Squalicum is a really good team,” Shorecrest coach Mindy Dalziel said. “They’re undefeated for a reason. They pass and move really well and I give them credit.”
Shorecrest opened the scoring in the 16th minute. Midfielder Meghan Wicken took a pass from midfielder Alexa Iacolucci and shot it low from 9 yards out to beat Storm goalkeeper Rachel Runnalls.
The Scots (19-5-0) controlled most of the play in the first half. “We had opportunities in the first half to go up two-nothing and we couldn’t find the back of the net,” Dalziel said.
Things changed in the second half. After managing seven shots in the first 40 minutes, Shorecrest had just two in the second half. “Playing defense the entire second half really hurt us,” Dalziel said.
Squalicum tied the game in the 47th minute on a goal by Kimberly Hazlett, who beat Scots keeper Kate Wiper with a screaming liner into the top right corner of the goal. After gaining the lead, Squalicum was able to run out the clock and come away with its first state title.
“Being an underdog, we had nothing to lose,” Dalziel said of playing an undefeated team. “We get to finish second in the 2A and we got to play at home and I’ll take that. To be second place (in the state) is amazing and (the Scots) cannot be disappointed in that.”
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