La Conner High junior Eva Porter drilled the game-winning goal in the second overtime shootout round of the Braves’ key 4-3 NW2B/1B triumph over Friday Harbor at Whittaker Field last Thursday.
Porter’s shot, which found the left corner of the net, squared La Conner’s conference won-loss mark at 3-3 going into its Oct. 28 home match with Orcas Island, whom the Braves blanked 9-0 earlier in the campaign.
Defeating Friday Harbor solidified La Conner’s post-season chances, first-year Braves head coach Leslie Swanson said Thursday shortly after her team’s nearly two-hour battle with the visiting Wolverines.
“This was the team we needed to beat,” Swanson said of Friday Harbor, which fell to 4-7-1 overall, 1-5 in NW2B/1B action. “It was a big win for us; maybe our biggest of the year.”
La Conner led 1-0 for much of the match on a first half corner kick header by freshman Faith Jenkins. The Braves lead held until late in regulation when Friday Harbor knotted the score at 1-1, sending the contest into overtime.
Neither team scored in two five-minute extra sessions. That forced the shootout with five players on each side taking turns in one-on-one matchups with the opposing goalkeeper. Jenkins and Angie Pena scored for La Conner, offsetting a pair of Friday Harbor goals.
When Braves goalkeeper Kellie Cayou-Lockrem made a diving stop of a Friday Harbor shot attempt on the second shootout go-round, that set the stage for Porter. She calmly delivered the clinching goal as La Conner players, coaches and fans to erupt in cheers.
Swanson praised Cayou-Lockrem’s work in goal, noting the many clutch saves she made throughout the marathon match.
“She’s really grown as a team leader and she did a great job out there today handling a lot of pressure,” she said.
The Braves narrowly missed winning the match in the waning moments of regulation. La Conner sophomore Maicy Bowles, who relentlessly attacked the Friday Harbor goal, had successive tough angle shot attempts soar over the crossbar and glance off the goal post.
The match was played under gusty conditions throughout with La Conner enjoying a wind advantage in the first half and Friday Harbor having the edge after intermission.
With the win, La Conner improved to 7-5-1 overall and avenged a 2-0 setback at Friday Harbor on Sept. 30.
The Braves close out league play at 4 p.m. Thursday at NW2B/1B leader Mount Vernon Christian, which held off Friday Harbor 2-0 earlier this month.
Volleyball
While La Conner and Friday Harbor were dueling on the pitch, the Braves volleyball team was sweeping Orcas Island in three sets at Landy James Gym. The Braves, who won for the 14th time in their last 16 matches, prevailed 25-18, 25-12, 25-19.
Nora McCormick and Rory Bird combined for 15 kills to lead the La Conner attack.
The Braves, 8-1 in league and 15-5-1 overall, received contributions from their entire roster with nine players taking part in at least two sets.
In addition to her eight kills, Nora McCormick tallied 10 assists, five digs and three service aces. Rory Bird finished with seven kills, six digs and four aces.
Maeve McCormick recorded 15 digs, five kills and an ace. Madi Larson had three kills and a block. Addie Keller delivered 13 digs and an ace.
Isla Jones served four aces and had three digs. Reese Bird logged 12 assists, six digs, three aces and a kill. Isabelle Villard delivered a kill and a dig.
Head coach Pam Keller’s charges are slated to host non-league foe Sedro-Woolley at 6 p.m. Wednesday before closing out the regular season at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at Mount Vernon Christian, whom La Conner defeated 3-1 at home on Oct. 7.
Boys’ soccer
While the school’s girls’ soccer team fared well in a shootout, the La Conner boys’ soccer squad suffered heartbreak in its overtime home match last week. La Conner forged a 2-2 tie in regulation against Lopez Island behind goals from Luke Cicotte and Kale Navarrete Higgins in its Oct. 22 Senior Night match. But the hosts were outscored 5-4 when the clash went to a shootout.
“It was a tough match, a tough loss,” said Braves head coach Galen McKnight. “But the guys played really well against a good opponent.”
La Conner, 4-8-1 in all matches, closed out the week with a hard-fought 3-1 setback at NW2B/1B rival Orcas Island on Friday. Navarrete Higgins scored for the Braves, who remained within striking distance throughout thanks in large part to stellar play in goal by Kamien Lopez.
The Braves are next scheduled at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Providence Classical Christian and then visit Coupeville 6 p.m. Thursday.
Football
The La Conner High football team on Saturday rolled to its third straight victory and fifth win in seven starts under first-year head coach Kirk Melton with a convincing 38-20 triumph at Quilcene.
The Braves matched the afternoon’s pouring rain with a deluge of points, amassing 597 yards total offense in the process.
Running back Yandel Rosales-Rojas led the Braves with 326 yards and three touchdowns. La Conner signal caller added 156 yards and a pair of scores, one coming on a pass interception return.
Duron Clark ground out 56 yards and a two-point conversion for the victors. Benny Allen gained 38 yards and Max Page tacked on another 21 to cap La Conner’s punishing run game.
The Braves stay on the road with a Halloween date at Lummi, which sports a 4-3 record after having routed Charles Wright Academy 44-6 last Saturday. La Conner defeated Charles Wright 48-24 at Whittaker Field on Oct. 17.
The La Conner-Lummi pairing kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday.
Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
