STATE 5A GIRLS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP: Lake City girls fall in PKs

Centennial repeats as 5A champion

MERIDIAN — It was almost as if Lake City High girls soccer coach Matt Ruchti might have scripted the game.

After a competitive, back-and-forth contest Lake City’s top player, senior Camryn Wendlandt, had a chance to win the 5A girls state soccer championship with a successful kick in a shootout after two overtimes.

But Wendlandt’s kick was blocked by Centennial goalkeeper Asha Tullock.

So, Lake City’s storybook ending wasn’t to be.

Centennial’s sixth kicker in the shootout, Alyse Erickson, was successful on her ensuing kick. And when Timberwolves senior forward Monique Queen’s shot was blocked, Centennial had defended its state title with a 2-1 victory Saturday at Rocky Mountain High.

“Those kids live for those moments,” Ruchti said. “I would have put the same group out there again and I’d pick the exact same five (kickers in the shootout). … Sometimes you win games and sometimes you don’t. It doesn’t always go your way, and tonight was one of those nights.”

In the early stages of the game, however, it certainly looked like it was going to be Lake City’s night.

Timberwolves freshman Bridget Rieken scored midway through the first half to give Lake City a 1-0 lead. The Timberwolves controlled much of the tempo in the first half, and had some quality chances to increase their lead.

“I wish we would have finished the opportunities we had,” Ruchti said.

But Centennial (14-3-3) managed to withstand Lake’s City’s storm.

“They’ve got some dangerous girls,” Centennial coach Steven Snider said. “They were hard to hold down. They’ve got a lot of talent and they’ve got a lot of attacking power and their girls are aggressive and go hard to the ball.”

But Centennial seemed to turn the tide when senior forward Alexa Glick scored 8 minutes, 38 seconds into the second half.

Lake City (14-1-2) outshot Centennial 9-4, but the score remained tied through regulation and the two, 10-minute overtimes.

The first three Timberwolves were successful on their kicks in the shootout, setting up Lake City’s two best players — Wendlandt and Havana Johnson — to seal the deal (Centennial’s third kick of the shootout hit the crossbar and missed).

But Johnson’s shot was high and wide right and Wendlandt’s was blocked.

“We have two of the best players in the state in Havana Johnson and Camryn Wendlandt,” Ruchti said. “There’s not a better player I saw this weekend that plays the way that those two do.”

Ruchti said the loss would sting for a while, but both players would rebound.

“Camryn is off to San Diego State, and she’s going to do great things there,” he said. “It’s a good learning moment for her. She’ll be better after this.”

Johnson, who scored 32 goals this season, has her senior year at Lake City ahead of her still.

“Havana is just one of the best players, and even the best players have misses,” Ruchti said.

After finishing fifth at state last season, Ruchti appreciated this year’s run at a title.

“I couldn’t be more proud of my team and what they accomplished this year,” Ruchti said. “We didn’t know how good we were going to be this year … but I couldn’t be more proud of every one of them.”

First half — 1, LC, Bridget Rieken (unassisted), 20:23. Second half — 2, Cen, Alexa Glick (unassisted), 28:38.

Shots on goal – LC 9, Cen 4.

Saves — LC, Emily Parson 3; Cen, Asha Tullock 8.