Wildcat offensive engine running slightly cold

Published 10:50 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

SNOQUALMIE – The Mount Si Wildcats came into the second half of the Kingco 3A girls soccer season needing a spark on offense to send a message to the rest of the league about how dangerous this team could be down the stretch. However, after their second straight scoreless effort last Thursday, one wonders if the spark will come in time to save Mount Si’s playoff chances.

The Wildcats had their chances, as did their opponent, the Bellevue Wolverines. The game, however, ended in a 0-0 tie, the second such tie of the season for Mount Si. Goalkeepers Jessica Blessard, Emily Evanson and Jenika Swanson shared in the shutouts. The Wildcats out shot Bellevue 9-5, and Blessard had four saves.

Lack of finishing has been a problem for the Wildcats this season.

“That’s been kind of our trademark. I mean Jess [Blessard] can only put up so many shutouts unless we put some points on the board; pretty simple,” said Mount Si coach Darren Brown, whose team also tied Mercer Island 0-0 Oct. 1 despite controlling most of that game.

For the Wolverines, who lost 2-1 at home to Mount Si earlier this season, the scoreless tie was a bit of a victory for them.

“Basically, we came here just hoping to hold on. We are missing some of our best players, but we told them it takes the whole team, the whole roster and they stepped up, and everybody was playing a different position, but everybody played smart, played tough, and I’ve got no fingernails left. It was just a great game,” said Bellevue coach Jon Anderson.

Mount Si had numerous chances throughout the contest; the best of those came late in the first half when Wildcat attackers fired shots that went off the crossbars, the posts and even the tips of Bellevue goalie Evanson’s fingers, but not into the back of the net.

“Quite frustrating. I don’t think we could hit the post any more,” said a perplexed Wildcat defender Kali Roestel.

The Wolverines had their best chance in the 70th minute, when a shot was fired and went off of Blessard’s fingers, then the goal post and out of bounds. Mount Si kept the attack up, but Bellevue defenders were there to stop things in their tracks.

Both teams maintained their positions in the standings. Since the Islanders lost to Issaquah, hard-charging Mercer Island remained well back.

Anderson said his team won’t change a thing despite the tie and the potential implications down the road. The coach said his team will approach that “the same way we approach the first half of the season. We just line up and do our best to beat people.”

Preparation is key as well, said Brown.

“We prepped for this match. We’ve been prepping for about five to six days now, and we know that when we step on the pitch, mostly against a team like Bellevue, we got to bring our A game, and if we don’t have that, anything can happen,” he said.

Roestel is ready for that kind of play. “We’ve been preparing all season. So as long as we can finish, we’re prepared.”

Mount Si is in the midst of a three-game road swing, which continues Friday at Liberty and next Tuesday at Interlake. The Wildcats tied Liberty 1-1 at home Sept. 20 in the game that cost the Patriots their star, Kayla Gunderson, to a knee injury. Brown expects Liberty to play hard for their fallen teammate.

“Liberty will be playing real inspired without Gunderson. They have to have someone step up on that team,” Brown said.

Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Liberty High School.