SC Soccer to face defending champs in toughest test

Shorecrest girls soccer team has a
players-only meeting after their practice Thursday

For most soccer teams, making it to State would be a big deal.

But the girls' team at Shorecrest isn’t just any team, and merely making it to State is only the first step on the way to achieving their next goal … winning a District Championship.

When the Scots shut out Archbishop Murphy Tuesday night, that win earned them a place in the sixteen-team State Tournament.

Before State begins next week, though, they face a formidable foe, their nemesis from last year, the undefeated (18-0) defending 2A State Champions, the Squalicum Storm, Saturday night at 7pm when the two teams face off for the District One Championship at Sedro-Woolley High School.

Coach Mindy Dalziel has been at the helm for the Highlanders for eleven seasons. This will be her team's ninth appearance at State, and the fifth consecutive year the Scots have made it to the final sixteen teams.

Shorecrest (16-1-1) has certainly played well against the stout competition in 3A WesCo, outscoring their opponents 60-6 over the course of the season, including 9 straight shutouts to end the regular season before allowing a goal last Saturday to Lynden in the first round of Districts.

But Squalicum has amassed an even more impressive set of stats, only allowing goals in two of their games while outscoring the competition by a staggering 85-3 mark, including 12 consecutive shutouts.

These two teams were on the same path last year, with the Storm beating the Scots 3-0 to win Districts, and 2-1 in the State Championship Game, both at Shoreline Stadium.

First things first. The two face each other Saturday night and it should be a terrific game between two of the best teams in the state, regardless of their school-size classification.

On paper, it looks like the Scots will need to bring their A game just to keep from being blown out by the juggernaut that is the Squalicum Storm.

--Frank Workman