Do-or-die time for Wolverines after opening-round playoff loss | Soccer

There's no margin of error left for the Wolverines.

Outplayed in its post-season opener, the Friday Harbor soccer team tumbled into the consolation bracket of the District 1 playoffs after falling to Meridian 3-1 Thursday in Oak Harbor. The Wolverines face Lynden Christian (4-13) at Mount Vernon High School on Saturday in a must-win situation, and with the season on the line.

The winner will advance to next week's Tri-District playoffs as the No. 3 seed from District 1. For the losing team, it's the end of the road; game time is noon.

With a victory, Friday Harbor can clinch a berth at Tri-District and avenge an early regular-season loss to the Lyncs, who posted a 5-4 victory over the Wolverines in the second game of the season.

The Wolverines (12-5) struck early against Meridian and grabbed a 1-0 advantage as Elle Guard scored the team's only goal of the game on an assist from senior Emma Ytander at the 7-minute mark. The Trojans, who bounced Coupeville out of post-season play with a win on Wednesday in their District 1 opener, responded quickly and with a vengeance.

At the 8-minute mark, Meridian's Randi Donahue drove home an assist by Alicia Wolf to tie the score at one apiece, and then scored what proved to be the game-winner, again on an assist by Wolf, nine minutes later. Wolf padded the Trojans' lead, at 3-1, by scoring the final goal of the game just two minutes after that.

Though the Wolverines held Meridian (4-14) scoreless in the second half, they were unable to score after the break as well.

"The team slowly regained its composure but not its passion, and despite numerous opportunities could not find the back of the net," Head Coach Mark Fishaut said in his summary of the game.

Friday Harbor goalie Hannah Snow had 16 saves on 18 shots-on-goal by the Trojans, according to the Bellingham Herald. The Wolverines managed just six shots-on-goal in 40 minutes of play.

Contact Journal of the San Juans Editor Scott Rasmussen at srasmussen@sanjuanjournal.com or 1-360-378-5696.

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