Montesano secured its rightful spot in the state tournament and district-title game with a victory over King’s Way Christian as we review Thursday’s girls prep soccer tournament games on the Harbor.

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GIRLS PREP SOCCER

Montesano 3, King’s Way Christian 1

Montesano picked a great time to have its best performance of the season.

Strengthened by a three-goal performance from sophomore striker Jaelyn Butterfield, the Bulldogs advanced to the state-tournament and the district-championship game with a 3-1 1A District semifinal win over King’s Way Christian on Thursday in Montesano.

Monte (13-5 overall) couldn’t have asked for a better start as the Bulldogs attack fed off its fleet-footed front line.

Butterfield and fellow forward Adda Potts gave Kights defenders fits throughout the game as KWC had no answer for the flat-out speed of the Bulldogs front, whether it be on through balls or runs down the wings.

Butterfield scored off a connection with junior midfielder Lex Stanfield a mere nine minutes into the game.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano’s Jaelyn Butterfield (left) celebrates with teammate Lex Stanfield after scoring a goal in a 3-1 win over King’s Way Christian in a 1A District 4 semifinal game on Thursday in Montesano.

The Bulldogs doubled the lead just two minutes later when senior midfielder Addi Kersker sent a hard through pass that skipped off a KWC defender’s outstretched foot and behind the Knights defensive line.

Butterfield turned on the jets to out run the field, collected the ball and slotted a shot past the oncoming KWC goalkeeper for a 2-0 lead.

“It felt so good,” Potts said of the lead. “We were in the mindset before the game that we were ready and we were having fun. We’ve been waiting for this moment the entire season, with all the work we’ve put in. So it just felt so good to get these two goals.”

KWC settled in as their defense began to bend more than break to hold back a Monte onslaught that continued to apply pressure.

The Knights regained some life when shifty sophomore midfielder Shaylie Haij gained possession just across midfield, made a move to get around a Montesano defender, and scored on a well-placed shot past Monte goalkeeper Izzie Taylor to trim Monte’s lead to 2-1 in the 29th minute, a lead the Bulldogs would take into halftime.

With the outcome of the game still very much in doubt, Monte’s speed up front once again proved to be a decisive factor.

Potts retained possession up the wing across the center line and got around her defender. The senior moved inside the penalty area and sent a cross toward the front of the net, where Butterfield – who was making a mad dash toward goal – hit a perfect one-timer to put the Dogs up 3-1 in the 50th minute.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano forward Adda Potts sprints away from King’s Way Christian’s Anna Osborne (15) and Amylia Akers during the Bulldogs’ 3-1 win in a 1A District 4 semifinal game on Thursday in Montesano.

“I just really wanted to make sure we played as a team and connected the ball well,” said Potts, who seemed to create scoring chances for the Bulldogs whenever she touched the ball. “I just wanted to make those runs down the field and cut it back to Jaelyn so she could score.”

KWC nearly scored 15 minutes into the second half when a long, high shot off a free kick by Haij was heading for the top of the net, but Taylor leaped to get a hand on the ball and deflect it out of bounds, preserving the Bulldogs’ two-goal lead.

Rather than sit back in a defensive shell, Monte continued to attack. The Bulldogs appeared to gain an elusive three-goal lead when a cross by midfielder Sam Roundtree to Butterfield was converted for a goal, but a foul was whistled by the referee, nullifying Monte’s would-be fourth goal.

It didn’t matter as the Bulldogs continued to create scoring chances over the final 10 minutes of the game, sealing the win and sending the Bulldogs to another district-title match.

“This season has been inconsistent, but today we put it all together,” Monte head coach Fidel Sanchez said. “We did a great job of executing the game plan. … We knew (Haij) and (Knights sophomore Jasmine Carney) were the connection. If we could focus on them, we’d be fine and we did. … They did not get any quality chances all game besides the goal. … Our midfield controlled the ball, found the wingers really well and we were getting really good combinations. … Things were just flying for us. … It was a very good game for everybody.”

“We’ve been practicing so hard all week and we just knew at practice yesterday that this was our game and we’re going to show it on the field today and do what we’ve been working hard for all season,” Potts said.

With the win, the Bulldogs earn another trip to state and a berth in the district-championship game, of which they’ve gone 1-8 over the past nine seasons.

If the Bulldogs are to win a second district title, they’ll have to do it against the tournament favorites in undefeated Seton Catholic (18-0), the second ranked team in the state that easily dispatched Elma 4-0 in the district semis on Thursday.

“It would be nice to win it. We’ve been there nine years in a row and we’ve lost all but one, but we have bigger trophies,” Sanchez said, referring to Montesano’s three consecutive top-four finishes at the state tournament over the past three seasons. “It just doesn’t add up. … It would be nice to win.”

The district-title game is scheduled for Saturday (time, date, location to be determined).

KWC 1 0 – 1

Montesano 2 1 – 3

Scoring

First half – 1, Montesano, Butterfield (Stanfield), 9th minute. 2, Montesano, Butterfield, 11th minute. 3, KWC, Haij, 29th minute.

Second half – 4, Montesano, Butterfield (Potts), 50th minute.

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Seton Catholic 4, Elma 0

Not much went right for Elma in a 4-0 1A District 4 semifinal loss to Seton Catholic on Thursday in Vancouver.

The Eagles (10-6-2) allowed two goals in each half against the talented Cougars (18-0), the WIAA RPI’s second-ranked team in the 1A class.

“The team needed to play with more heart and grit,” Elma head coach Evan Valentine said. “Also, when you make mistakes against good teams, you will be punished. But. We have more to give and we’re not done yet.”

Elma faces Rochester in a district-elimination game on Saturday (time, date, location pending), with the winner earning a trip to the state tournament while the loser’s season will come to an end.

In its two wins over the Warriors this season, the Eagles are a combined 6-0 in goals scored.

Elma 0 0 – 0

Seton Catholic 2 2 – 4

Scoring

First half – 1, Seton Catholic, Barrett, 25th minute. 2, Seton Catholic, Chase (Moore), 30th minute.

Second half – 3, Seton Catholic, Chase, 44th minute. 4, Seton Catholic, Moore (Herboth), 48th minute.