Boosted by the return of one of its top goal-scoring threats, the Montesano Bulldogs advanced in the 1A District 4 Tournament with a 4-1 victory over La Center in a quarterfinal game on Tuesday at Jack Rottle Field in Montesano.
The Bulldogs (12-5 overall) got on the board when senior forward Adda Potts scored from inside the penalty area in the 19th minute.
Just four minutes later, speedy sophomore Jaelyn Butterfield scored to put the Bulldogs up 2-0, a lead Monte appeared to be taking into halftime.
But with less than a minute to go until the break, La Center (8-8-1) scored to slice the Bulldogs lead in half.
Monte got a spark after the half thanks to junior midfielder Lex Stanfield, who was in her first game back after reaggrivating an injury back on Sept. 16.
Stanfield scored two goals in the span of two minutes in the second half to give Monte the all-important three-goal lead at 4-1.
“That was good to see her in the lineup,” Montesano head coach Fidel Sanchez said. “She’s a difference-maker. … She was a little rusty, but we put her up top and she made a difference. She knows how to score.”
Montesano goal keeper Izzie Taylor made two saves in the second half to help preserve the victory and send the Bulldogs into the district-semifinal round.
“Our work rate is good, but we were up 2-0 and our quality took a slide down,” Sanchez said. “Everybody was hustling, but the quality of passes, the quality of runs, the quality of finishing was down a little bit tonight. … But all that matters right now is find a way to win and move on, and that’s what we did.”
The Bulldogs will host a King’s Way Christian team that beat Rochester 6-0 in a district-quarterfinal game.
“They shoot hard from 20-30 yards out on target. … They can shoot that ball,” Sanchez said of the Knights. “We’re going to deny the long shot and I think we can hit them with our speed on the other end. We’ll see what happens.”
Monte will host KWC at 6 p.m. on Thursday, with the winner earning a state berth and spot in the district final.
La Center 1 0 – 1
Montesano 2 2 – 4
Scoring
First half – 1, Montesano, Potts, 19th minute. 2, Montesano, Butterfield, 23rd minute. 3, La Center, 40th minute.
Second half – 4, Montesano, Stanfield, 58th minute. 5, Montesano, Stanfield, 59th minute.
PHOTO BY SHAWN DONNELLY Montesano’s Sam Roundtree (left) congratulates teammate Adda Potts (8) after a goal in the first half of a 4-1 win over La Center on Tuesday at Jack Rottle Field in Montesano.
