MILWAUKIE – Michelle Snader and Safiyah Maurice scored goals Tuesday night to lead La Salle Prep to a 2-1 victory over North Marion High School in a Capital Conference play-in game. The win vaulted the Falcons into the OSAA girls’ soccer state playoffs, where they will open with a road game vs. Cottage Grove High School Saturday at 5 p.m.
“I am very proud of the girls,” said La Salle coach Ryan Cereghino. “They have worked hard all season, battled through injuries, and deserve to represent our league in the state playoffs.”
The Falcons, 9-6-1, opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Snader, a junior, put away a rebound following a shot on goal by senior Stephanie Socotch. Socotch’s shot was deflected the Husky goalkeeper, allowing Snader to find the loose ball and punch home a score from close range.
But the Huskies came right back to get the equalizer when captain Lindsey Evenson scored on a rebound shot of her own in the 22nd minute. La Salle keeper Natalie Byrne made a valiant diving save of a shot, but Evenson was in the vicinity to collect the loose ball and tie the score 1-1.
The teams battled back and forth until a little less than 17 minutes remained in the game. That’s when La Salle senior Safiyah Maurice, positioned out beyond the top of the box, left-footed a 21-yard shot to the far post. The ball caromed off the post and traveled to the opposite side of the goal mouth, where it bounded off the near post and into the side netting.
La Salle totaled 16 shots (eight on goal) to North Marion’s seven (five on goal).
The winner of Saturday’s La Salle-Cottage Grove matchup will advance to play at Catlin Gabel Tuesday.
Dave Haglund
