Shorewood Girls Soccer

A Shorewood midfielder capitalized on a defensive lapse just two minutes after helping equalize against Mountlake Terrace at Shoreline Stadium on Tuesday. The sophomore, Sky Helstad, advanced past several opponents during a sustained offensive push as the first half neared its end.

Approaching the left side of the penalty area, Helstad anticipated a push toward the sideline. Instead, a teammate behind her communicated with an opposing player to create space, allowing Helstad to cut inside.

"A girl behind me told her teammate to back off, so she did," Helstad explained. "I went in between them and shot."

The strike landed in the top right corner from the edge of the box, giving Shorewood a 2-1 lead shortly before halftime. This followed an earlier attempt where the midfielder had narrowly missed the crossbar from roughly 30 yards out.

The Stormrays, currently 4-4-1 overall and 4-1-0 in league play, maintained possession throughout the second half. Freshman Hermela Tekeste extended the lead in the 73rd minute with a long-range goal, securing a 3-1 final score against the Hawks, who improved to 4-3-1 overall and 2-3-0 in conference play.

Junior Lilly Burris noted the team's development despite their youth. "Our team is pretty young, but we've learned to really connect and create that chemistry that we thought we wouldn't have," Burris said. "But we're definitely gaining it for sure."

Shorewood began the campaign 2-4-1, including three defeats against Wesco 4A opponents. Initial losses to Kamiak and Jackson, both 2-1, led to two league victories and a non-league draw before a 5-2 defeat to Glacier Peak.

Coach Shaun Warner described the early setbacks as valuable lessons for the young roster. "We're a younger roster, so getting used to that physicality, it was perfect matchups for us to have to do it," Warner said. "I think in all those games, we had the lead, and all of them we've experienced not having the lead in those games, and so those were really good learning moments for our players."

Mountlake Terrace, which started the year 4-1-0, faced challenges with depth and health. With starter Jordyn Stokes absent, backup goalkeeper Madeleine Qualle faced significant pressure. Although Qualle made several key saves, Shorewood's long-range shooting proved difficult to contain.

Hawks coach Josh Cardin acknowledged the difficulty of the match. "We're just trying to limit the damage in the center there, and did a pretty good job of that for the most part," Cardin said. "We just got a little unlucky. Shorewood's really good. They were moving the ball really well. That last goal was amazing. I mean, you can't do nothing about that sometimes, so I tip my hat to them for that, for sure."

The Mountlake Terrace coach anticipates his squad will return to full health next week, though he views the remainder of the season as a challenging climb within the competitive Wesco South division.

Mountlake Terrace unveiled an altered tactical setup on Tuesday, a shift that Shorewood head coach Warner conceded was unexpected. The Hawks departed from their standard four-back alignment to deploy a three-back system, a move that left the Shorewood forwards positioned too high up the pitch and created significant space on the flanks for the Mountlake Terrace wingers.

A through ball from junior Addison Keopraseurt to freshman Sophia Underbrink down the left flank led to a pass back to junior Ella Vander Ploeg, though Stormrays junior Mckenzie Clark intervened to clear the danger in the seventh minute.

The Stormrays struggled to connect on through balls during counterattacks early on, though Burris and sophomore Siena Lorentz pressured the Mountlake Terrace defense. Hawks senior Lorelai Baumann defended the goal effectively, using her body to block a shot from senior McKenna Anderson in the 18th minute. Shortly afterward, Mountlake Terrace took the lead.

Senior Lilly Sims executed quick passes to navigate the defense, delivering a ground cross to Vander Ploeg inside the box, where she finished from the left post to give the Hawks a 1-0 advantage in the 19th minute.

"We were a little bit unorganized in the middle, and they just found her when we thought maybe she'd be offsides," Helstad stated regarding the play. "But then, I guess she was onside and found that great goal."

After Shorewood withdrew its forwards to counter the Mountlake Terrace formation, the team generated increased offensive opportunities during the final 20 minutes of the first half. Goalkeeper Qualle cleared a long aerial pass from Helstad before it could reach Lorentz, and she made a diving save on Lorentz in the 28th minute, with Hawks freshman Kyla Johnson clearing the rebound. Helstad attempted to connect with teammates on a cross from the right in the 31st minute, but the ball narrowly evaded both.

The Stormrays continued to accumulate chances, including a shot on goal, a header sent just wide, and a long shot striking the post. Helstad eventually connected on a cross from the left to senior Rilan Fly at the far post, where the ball fell to Fly's feet, allowing her to punch it into the top corner for the equalizer in the 38th minute.

"Once we were able to make that adjustment, I thought the last 20 minutes we knew goals were coming," Warner said. "We were being dangerous that whole time, and then once we got the first one, I knew momentums now shifted, and so I thought the team did a really good job of responding because that was something we haven't worked on."

A second goal followed quickly, as Helstad demonstrated long-range scoring ability just before halftime to secure a 2-1 lead.

"It just gives you a positive mindset," Burris said regarding taking the lead prior to halftime. "You want to score more because it gives you adrenaline and makes a good feeling that you want more of."

Shorewood Maintains Control in Second Half

Shorewood resumed its attacking momentum after halftime, coming close to widening its advantage in the 34th minute. A cross from Lorentz deflected to Fly, who faced an open net near the left post, but defender Qualle scrambled across the line to make a critical stop.

The Stormrays concentrated on ball retention, though Mountlake Terrace managed to generate scoring chances. Goalkeeper Mady Finseth intervened when necessary, blocking a long-range attempt from Brielle Hord in the 48th minute. One minute later, she advanced to collect a chip from Vander Ploeg aimed at senior Taylor Williams.

Shorewood continued to apply pressure, frequently regaining possession deep in the Hawks' territory. Tekeste effectively sealed the result with a strike from 30 yards out in the 73rd minute, bringing the score to 3-1.

Regarding the team's proficiency with distance shots, Warner stated that it is not a specific topic of discussion for the squad. However, he noted that the coaching staff often shouts instructions to shoot, and the players respond well to those prompts. Warner added that it was an enjoyable evening and praised the team's performance.