Local soccer teams to square off in season finale Tuesday

Soccer ball
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Tuesday night, October 23, 2018 at 7pm at Shoreline Stadium, the Shorecrest and Shorewood girls soccer teams square off in the regular season finale.

If ever there was a night for local youth coaches (of both boys and girls teams) from the Hillwood and Shorelake Soccer organizations to bring their teams to a game, this would be it. 

Nearly all the players they’ll be watching are the product of the two programs, and watching the ‘big kids’ play can teach them invaluable soccer techniques as well as great lessons regarding sportsmanship, effort, hustle, and team play. Dry weather is in the forecast.

The teams come into the game with very similar records. The Scots are 8-3-2 in WesCo action, while the T-Birds are 8-4-1.

Both teams have strong coaches. Mindy Dalziel is at the helm for the Scots, while long-time local coach Gary Harris leads the T-Birds.

Both schools have long, proud, and successful programs, with State Championship banners adorning the walls of both gyms. Michelle Akers, arguably the greatest female American player, was a Scot, while her US National and World Cup Champion teammate Lori Henry (who is a long-time assistant coach for SC) played for the T-Birds. 

Nina Lowe, a two-sport SW State Champion (in soccer and basketball, as well as a former T-Bird girls basketball coach) was on the 1999 championship team, while Scots coach Mindy Dalziel won State in 1992 and 1993 as a player at Shorecrest.

It will be the first meeting of the year between the two teams, and with the District One 3A playoffs starting next weekend, much is at stake.

Those teams ranked in the top six in the complex RPI system earn their way into Districts with a bye into the tournament, while those ranked 7-10 must win a dreaded ‘win-or-go-home’ play-in game that precedes Districts. Both teams have a chance to finish in the top six. A top-four finish earns a team a first-round home game.

The latest RPI rankings can be found HERE.

The outcome of Tuesday’s match will go a long way to determining the final seeding of both teams, as well as deciding if either (or both) teams get a first-round home game next Saturday.

Players to watch - For Shorewood, freshman twin sisters Kaitlyn and Morgan Manalili are very technical ball-handlers with great awareness, along with the ability to create and finish plays. Look for senior defender Hai-Ying Aw to make long throw-ins. Sophomores Grace Kamilla and Shea Mertel both hustle like crazy.

For Shorecrest - Junior Izzy Menning plays with passion and drive. Junior defender Sydney Van Ness is a stud; an anchor on the back line with a big free-kick leg. Junior Sevi Mitsopoulos, back from injury, is a real playmaker. Senior captain Amanda Kagarabi brings great all-around athleticism and leadership qualities to the team, as well as the experience that comes with having been a part of two state champion teams for the Scots, in track and basketball.

Kagarabi, especially, is looking forward to Tuesday’s showdown. 

“I’m so excited for this game. We are all playing for pride, and our games with Shorewood always have a whole ‘nother type of energy. We’re excited to end the regular season on a high note as we prepare for the playoff battle coming up over the next few weeks.”

--Sports Desk