4A Girls Soccer | Woodinville advances with 2-1 win over Shorewood

SHORELINE — After a quarterfinal win that ensured Woodinville its third state trophy in as many years, Falcons girls soccer coach Sully Hester applauded how far his team had come.

"We weren't that good at the start of the year," Hester said. "It's amazing how much we've improved."

The eighth-ranked Falcons scored two first-half goals and had to withstand a second-half rally to beat Shorewood 2-1 in a Class 4A state quarterfinal game Saturday at Shoreline Stadium. Woodinville plays Jackson of Mill Creak in the semifinals on Friday.

"We haven't peaked yet," Hester said. "I wouldn't be surprised if we're playing better next week."

After trailing 2-0 at the break, Shorewood (15-4-2) pulled within a goal in the 63rd minute when Xana Bartlett chipped a shot over Falcons goalkeeper Leslie Greer.

Woodinville senior Heather Thomas opened the scoring in the 10th minute, firing a 30-yard free kick into the net.

"Nobody stops that shot," Hester said. "I don't care how good their goalie is. You can't stop that."

The Falcons (13-3-1) added a goal in the 35th minute, when Stine Schoening beat a Thunderbirds defender and the goalkeeper to a pass in front of the goal and tipped it in.

Other game

Jackson 2, Tahoma 1 (SO)

At Everett Memorial Stadium, scouting paid off for Jackson, a team with only one senior, as the Timberwolves advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals with a shootout victory over Tahoma at Everett Memorial Stadium.

Jackson coach Mike Bartley watched Tahoma (11-5-4) beat Issaquah in a shootout earlier in the week and relayed the order and what each shooter did to his goalkeeper, KC Wilson.

Wilson said the information was "really accurate and it was a big help" as she blocked two of five shots in the shootout, won by Jackson 4-3. The winning shootout goal was by Denae Fitz.

Regulation and two overtimes ended 1-1. Both teams scored on free kicks in the second half. Brianna Ellis scored for Jackson in the 48th minute with a 20-yard shot from the right side that tucked inside the far post. Tahoma equalized in the 53rd minute on a free kick by Tarah Duty.

Jackson (16-1-3) advanced to the semifinals for the third time in five years and will play Woodinville.

Times staff reporter Craig Smith contributed to this report.