Shorecrest beats Snohomish to reach district final
A late first-half goal by Olivia Taylor secured a 1-0 victory over Snohomish on Tuesday, sending the Scots to the District 1 3A championship game.
By Jason Kovalenko ·
Shorecrest advanced to the District 1 3A girls soccer final after defeating Snohomish 1-0 at Shoreline Stadium on Tuesday. The victory caps a strong season for the Scots, who are currently 15-1-2, and secures their spot in the state tournament.
The game remained scoreless for nearly 40 minutes. Shorecrest junior Siena Muoio broke the deadlock just before halftime. She won the ball in the left corner and passed to senior Olivia Taylor in the box. Taylor shot the ball into the bottom left corner to give Shorecrest the lead.
Shorecrest coach Mindy Dalziel said the team worked to use the flanks to create space. Taylor noted that the plan relied on beating defenders down the line and delivering crosses. She described Muoio’s pass as a perfect example of the strategy working. Taylor added that she simply happened to be in the right position to finish the play.
Snohomish, with an 11-6-1 record, had the ball for stretches but struggled to convert chances. Senior goalie Mickie McNeil made several key saves for the Scots. She blocked a shot from senior Danica Avalos in the 12th minute. Later in the second half, she punched a shot from senior Jo Cort over the bar in the 58th minute to keep the lead safe.
Snohomish coach Brielle Dodge said her team has improved since the two sides last met on Sept. 3. In that non-league game, Shorecrest won 3-1. Dodge stated that the team has synced together and found players who thrive in different positions. She said the goal was to prove they could compete with any team in the state.
The final minutes saw Snohomish push for an equalizer. Senior Lizzie Allyn had to be helped off the field in the 75th minute after a collision in the box. Dodge did not provide an immediate update on her condition. Shorecrest defenders Agatha Freeman, Kai Johnson, and freshman Zoey Muoio made critical stops in the closing minutes to hold onto the win.
Shorecrest will play Stanwood in the district championship on Saturday at Shoreline Stadium. The Scots last won the district title in 2022. They missed the state tournament last year. Dalziel said returning to this stage allows the team to breathe after last year’s disappointment. A win on Saturday would also improve their seed for the state tournament.
