Edmonds CC women beat Highline 4-1

By KEVIN BREIWICK

Herald Writer

EDMONDS – Marrisa Brooks’ three goals helped lead the Edmonds Community College women’s soccer team to a 4-1 Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges quarterfinal playoff victory over fourth-seeded Highline Community College on Sunday.

EdCC improved to 13-2-1 with the victory. Highline ended the season at 6-7-2.

Edmonds will play Saturday at Pop Keeney Stadium against an opponent yet to be determined.

“It was nice to pull this one off,” said first-year Edmonds coach Teddy Mitalas, who helped turn a three-win team last year into a first-place team.

The Tritons went into halftime cushioned by a 3-0 lead courtesy of Brooks.

Edmonds scored its first goal on Lisa Gowey’s header after a corner kick, seven minutes into the game.

Brooks started her scoring binge at the 30-minute mark. She beat her defender on the right side and punched her shot past the goalie on the left. Five minutes later, Brooks scored again, hitting a hard shot into the net from less than 10 yards out on an assist by Emily Koslosky.

The Edmonds defense was rarely challenged through the half. Sophomore goalkeeper Erin Guizzetti helped keep Highline shut out. Edmonds outshot the Thunderbirds 22-5.

Brooks got the hat trick early in the second half with a high, lofting shot over the goalkeeper’s hands, which barely cleared the cross bar at the 56th minute.

“It’s nice to have (Brooks) finish this off,” Mitalas said, “especially a player who loves to score goals.”

Guizzetti got a well-deserved break when Monroe High School grad Brianne Brown took over in goal.

Edmonds held an advantage throughout the game by being able to reach into their bench. Highline didn’t have that luxury with just two reserves available.

“I told the girls to just be fit, because I’m going to rotate players and put everyone in,” Mitalas said. “They died the second half. We knew the first 10 minutes of the second half they always came out fast.”