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Capital rallies past N. Kitsap

Girls Soccer: Edenstrom alertly scores on pair of rebounds for 2-1 win

MEG WOCHNICK; The Olympian | • Published November 04, 2009

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OLYMPIA – Capital girls soccer coach Anna Boatright gave her team some encouraging words when they were behind at halftime of a Class 3A subdistrict girls soccer game Tuesday night against the North Kitsap Vikings. But one phrase she also stressed was a simple one: Follow the ball.

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Capital vs North Kitsap Girls Soccer Playoffs

“Don’t assume she (North Kitsap goalkeeper Heather Martin) has it,” Boatright said.

Capital roared back behind freshman Alyssa Edenstrom’s two goals in a three-minute span for a 2-1 victory at Ingersoll Stadium.

Both of Edenstrom’s goals came from just a few feet outside the goal in the 61st and 64th minutes, respectively. The shots came on rebounds off the hands of Martin.

Both times, Edenstrom was in the right place at the right time to score. Her second goal came on a cross and hit the left side of the goal and dribbled out in front of Martin after she had her hands on it.

The win gives Capital (13-4) the Olympic League-Western Cascade Conference subdistrict’s No. 1 seed into Saturday’s West Central District III tournament.

The Cougars will face the South Puget Sound League’s eighth seed at 1 p.m. Saturday at South Sound Stadium in a loser-out, winner-to-state game. Capital looks to advance to the Class 3A state tournament for the second time in three years.

The Cougars had allowed only one goal in WCC play entering Tuesday’s game. They had shut out five of their league opponents and outscored them 33-1. The one goal they allowed came on a penalty kick in a 3-1 win against Yelm.

It took time for the Cougars (13-4) to adjust to North Kitsap (11-1-3), which won the Olympic League with a 10-0 record. For the Vikings, the loss means they will play the No. 6 seed from the SPSL at 1 p.m. Saturday at Franklin Pierce Stadium.

“We knew they’d be good,” Boatright said. “We knew they weren’t so good we couldn’t play with them, but that it would be a really good game.”

Capital had the tough task of stopping prolific North Kitsap scorer Siara Byers, a forward who leads the team with 22 goals. The Cougars did so by limiting her touches in the second half.

The Cougars had a lot more speed up front and proved to be the aggressors in the second half.

North Kitsap’s goal came from midfielder Elya Le in the fifth minute. She hit the upper part of the net from 25 yards out. Capital goalkeeper Riley Kirchmeier had five saves.

“I think our defense stepped up and played a bit harder,” Boatright said.

Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473

mwochnick@theolympian.com