SUMNER – It took a pair of overtimes, plus a pair of shootout rounds of the semifinal match to determine a winner between the La Conner Braves and the Orcas Island Vikings to advance to Saturday’s 1B/2B girls’ soccer title game, against either Napavine Tigers or the Seattle Lutheran Saints.
It also took the Viking goalkeeper, Lana Bronn, to kick a chipshot to the left side in the second round of the overtime shootout for the Orcas Island Vikings to reach the championship game in what resulted in a 2-1 slugfest between these Northwest B League rivals in the semifinals at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner Friday afternoon.
Of five players from both teams set up for their shootout free kicks, three players from each side scored goals, forcing a second round. The first Viking, Bronn, chipped high and left for her goal. La Conner sent Emily Bruland to tie, but her attempt was directly at Bronn, who made the save for the win.
A 28-yard free kick by La Conner’s Sydney Hartwick in the first overtime period sailed straight at the crossbar with 27 seconds remaining in the first overtime, but was tipped over the goal by Bronn, for the save.
In regulation, La Conner’s goal came as Hartwick gathered the ball along the right sidelines and arched an 18-yarder off her right foot that bent left, past Bronn for the Braves’ first goal to tie the score, 1-1, in the 49th minute of play.
The first goal of the game came on Orcas Island’s Alison O’Toole’s 10-yarder into the left side of La Conner’s in the 5th minute.
The Brave’s goalie, Kelly Gilkey, made a two-handed save smack between the sideposts to keep the score 1-0 at the 29th minute.
La Conner has had eight chances to take the lead with corner-kick opportunites, with one bouncing in front of the Orcas goal untouched. The Vikings have played the entire game without taking a corner kick.
SkagitRadio.com will provide updates throughout tomorrow’s title game beginning at 2 p.m. Special thanks to Peace & Plenty Flower Farms and the Orcas Island Volunteer Firefighters and EMT’s for their support of Viking sports on SkagitRadio.com.
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