Spartans break through for 2-0 win

Uneven play at the offensive end has BHS scoring in fits and starts.

It’s been a weird run for the Spartan girls’ soccer team, with last-second goals and unpredictable turns.

Alana MacWhorter would agree.

“It has been an odd season,” the senior co-captain said. “For example, the last five seconds in our Eastside (Catholic) game, and then losing to Blanchet... honestly, everyone walked off the field and they were like, ‘That was just unlucky.’ We’re like, ‘What’s going on?’”

What’s going on is that the varsity girls soccer team is having trouble making shots when it counts.

On Tuesday, the Spartans were shut out until the last 10 minutes when Emily Peters gave them the lead, but they allowed a last-second goal by the Crusaders, forcing them to settle for the tie.

On Thursday, Bainbridge had numerous opportunities against Ingraham, yet didn’t score until the last five minutes when the Rams’ starting goalie went down with an injury. Bainbridge went on to defeat the Rams 2-0.

Assistant coach Jeff Gans, filling in for Spartan head coach Mark Grindrod while he’s away on vacation, said the team’s play on Tuesday was their best all year, even calling the game “a turning point” for the season.

“We had consistent passes, lots of shots and our attitude was positive and agressive,” he said. “We know we can play with the best teams in this league, and we know that we’re playing better as a team.”

But they couldn’t capitalize on several opportunities on Thursday, and Gans was honest about it.

“Clearly, we dominated the entire game,” he said. “Their goalkeeper made some great saves, but we’ve got to take better shots. We’ve got to put the ball in the net.”

That was an understatement, as Bainbridge practically lived in Ingraham’s end for the entire game, but there were still too many missed scoring opportunities.

Zena Hemmen had a great look in the first half when Ingraham’s goalkeeper came out too early, but her shot missed to the right.

In the second half, Bainbridge took numerous shots at the Rams’ goalie, but she made some impressive saves, including a jumping hand save to tip the ball over the top of the goal.

Hemmen had another great look, but her shot hit Kelsey Devereaux who happened to be in the way.

Devereaux had a great corner kick that went over the goalie’s head, but the ball hit the far post and bounced out.

The Spartans finally caught a break when Ingraham’s goalkeeper went down with an ankle injury as she made a save off a corner kick. Bainbridge took advantage of her sub as Devereaux scored on a pass from Hemmen in the 75th minute. Two minutes later, Lucy Donahue added another goal on another pass from Hemmen when she tapped one in.

The Spartans were without Allie Picha, Callie Tift, Callan Cobb and Lindsey Montoya, who were out with various injuries and illness. Gans expects them back by next week’s game.

They’ll need them as they play Lakeside, the undefeated Mountain Division leader on Tuesday and Seattle Prep at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila on Thursday.

MacWhorter said next week will be the “moment of truth” for the team, noting that they defeated the five-time state champs both times they played last year.

“It’s not do or die, because it’s always weird getting into playoffs,” she said. “But we want to win, and that’s what drove us last year was that we beat Lakeside two times. Beating Lakeside our first time at our home field, it inspired our whole entire season.”

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