(Kalama, WA)Â -- The NWAC quarterfinal match between Lower Columbia and North Idaho featured 110 minutes of scoreless soccer.
Then it was Kyla time!
The Red Devils and Cardinals put on a defensive show on Saturday November 5th at Chinook Stadium in Kalama, WA. Â
The Devils, as they have all season, dominated time of possession and kept the heat on North Idaho's defense all game but the Cardinals held strong.
Lower Columbia put 10 shots up but five sailed wide. North Idaho's goalie Kaycee Chavez stopped the other five. North Idaho had five shots with four off the mark. LCC Goalie
Kyla Pires had a great save late in the second half to keep the score sheet empty.
After 90 minutes of no joy, the two teams set up for a 10-minute OT, first to score wins. 10 minutes passed and the score was still 0-0.
So, they reset for another 10. In the 108th minute, Cardinals forward Addison McCullock split the Devils defender and found herself in a one-on-one with LCC's Pires. McCullock managed to evade a diving Pires to find an open goal but, much to the dismay of the entire crowd, she missed the shot wide right.
The missed shot would be the end of the second OT setting up a penalty kick shootout decide the winner with Pires in the goal for LCC and Chavez for NIC.
First to kick was North Idaho's Madison Murphy. Murphy kicked to the right of the net but Pires never hesitated getting the diving block.
LCC's
Paige Miller hit her shot in the upper left giving the Devils a 1-0 advantage.
McCullock was up next for NIC. She nailed her shot in the left corner to even it up at 1-1.
Jasmari Nolasco stepped up for LCC giving the Devils a 2-1 lead with a bullet to the left side.
NIC's Solei Elletson stepped up for her shot but sent it over the net to keep the score 2-1.
LCC Captain
Ellie Seekins then hit the back of the net to give the Devils a 3-1 lead.
It was Clair Robbins turn to try and keep North Idaho alive. Robbins kicked it right and Pires dove right blocking the shot to give the Red Devils the win.
Pires, the Red Devils vocal leader, etched her name in Red Devil soccer lore with an incredible performance.
In regulation and the OT's,
Lauren Maxfield had 2 shots on goal. Natajia Blaylock also had 2 shots, both on goal. Seekins had 1 shot on goal.
Molly Romanchock had 2 shots and
Alexandra Dolce had 1.
LCC had eight corner kicks to NIC's three.
The win advances Lower Columbia to the NWAC Championships Semifinals match on Friday, November 11, at Starfire Stadium in Tukwilla, WA. The Devils will face the Spokane Sasquatch out of the East Region in a 1:30 pm showdown. Spokane upset tournament favorite Peninsula in another quarterfinal that featured a shootout. Columbia Basin will take on Clark in the first Final Four match at 11 am Friday.
Go to nwacsports.com for complete information on tickets and live broadcast of the match.
