Against an opponent that challenged every bit of resolve they could muster, the Montesano Bulldogs out slugged the La Center Wildcats, 6-4, in a 1A District 4 semifinal game on Wednesday at Jack Rottle Field in Montesano.

Montesano midfielder Zoee Lisherness had a hand in five of the Bulldogs’ six goals, scoring a hat trick and assisting on two goals in the game.

The game couldn’t have started better for the Bulldogs, as Lisherness found herself just inside the Wildcats’ 18-yard box and ripped a shot into the top left corner of the La Center net for a 1-0 lead with just 1:19 elapsed in the game.

Lisherness then sent a pass to midfielder Brooke Streeter, who got past the Wildcat defense and scored to double Monte’s lead in the 16th minute of the game.

But La Center (6-2-1 overall) responded with a goal in 23rd minute, when standout freshman midfielder Madisen Newbury sent a direct free kick over the head of Montesano goal keeper Ellie Barbo from approximately 25 yards out.

Monte made it 3-1 when Annabelle Estrada scored off a feed from Lisherness in the 29th minute.

Montesano’s Zoee Lisherness high-fives teammate Annabelle Estrada (27) after the Bulldogs scored against La Center on Wednesday in Montesano. Monte won 6-4 to advance to Saturday’s district championship game. (Ryan Sparks | The Daily World)

Three minutes later, Newbury scored again on another direct free kick, this time sending a long, angled shot over Barbo’s outstretched arms and just inside the far post to cut Monte’s lead to 3-2.

With 5:30 left in the first half, La Center would knot the game up at 3-3 when a corner kick squeaked through the Monte defense and snuck across the line.

Sanchez replaced Barbo in goal for the taller option of Taylor Stenback with 3:15 left before halftime. Stenback then made a successful challenge on a dangerous La Center scoring opportunity — breaking from her goal line to deflect a shot opportunity — and made a leaping, two-handed deflection on another skillful direct free kick off the foot of Newbury that was headed to the top of the Monte goal, keeping the score at 3-3 heading into halftime.

“It’s really deflating to be up by two goals (multiple times) and then it’s 3-3,” Montesano head coach Fidel Sanchez said. “That’s very deflating as a team. We went in at halftime and told them, ‘Settle down. We know we can score so let’s keep doing that.’”

Sanchez also informed his defensive backfield to stay in front of Newbury, whom he complimented as “an amazing player.”

Much like they started the first half, the Bulldogs came roaring out of the gates in the second half.

Lisherness scored the go-ahead goal on a through pass from Streeter just 1:19 into the half.

A few minutes later, fleet-footed Montesano forward Jaiden Morrison took a feed from midfielder Cassadie Golding and scored on a breakaway to give Monte its third two-goal lead of the game at 5-3 in the 48th minute.

La Center cut the lead to 5-4 on a shot from Newbury in the 72nd minute, but that is as close as the Wildcats would get as Streeter was fouled in the penalty area on a cutback, and Lisherness buried the subsequent penalty kick to put Monte up 6-4 in the 74th minute.

Montesano (9-2-1) held off the Wildcats the rest of the way to claim victory and earn a trip to the 1A District 4 championship game, where they will host the Tenino Beavers today.

“The fight you showed was great in the second half,” Sanchez told his team after the game. “That was a big challenge in front of you guys and you responded.”

Montesano out shot La Center 19-11, with 15 Bulldogs shots on goal to seven for the Wildcats.

“The fight was there,” Sanchez said of his team’s ability to respond when the pressure reached its peak. “We got the job done and the girls responded well, and that’s what I cared about.”

La Center 3 1 — 4

Montesano 3 3 — 6

Castle Rock 3, Hoquiam 1

After a road trip that Hoquiam head coach Drew Grannemann stated was “plagued with misfortune,” the Hoquiam Grizzlies’ season ended with a 3-1 loss to Castle Rock in a 1A District 4 consolation-round game Wednesday in Castle Rock.

Castle Rock (5-4) scored goals in the 3rd, 12th and 32nd minutes of the first half to take a commanding 3-0 lead into halftime.

“We failed to mentally show up in the first half,” Grannemann said, noting the road trip included a hit-and-run accident that left the Hoquiam school bus without a mirror (no injuries reported) and an hour-long wait in a parking lot in Oakville for a replacement bus to arrive. “The second half was more our speed.”

Hoquiam senior forward Sadie Carlyle uses her head while being defended by Castle Rock’s Lori Ogden (7) during the Grizzlies’ 3-1 loss on Wednesday in Castle Rock. (Photo by Ben Winkelman)

Hoquiam (1-11) out shot the Rockets 12-4 over the final 40 minutes of the game and scored when senior forward Sadie Carlyle converted on a penalty kick in the 50th minute.

“For the final 30 minutes, we kept battling and creating opportunities but ended up falling short,” Grannemann said, noting Grizzlies Emily Daniels and Yesica Pena “played with a lot of heart” on Wednesday.

Hoquiam 0 1 — 1

Castle Rock 3 0 — 3

Other scores

1A District 4 semifinal

Tenino 1, King’s Way Christian 1 (Tenino 4-3 on penalty kicks)

1A District 4 consolation

Elma 5, Goldendale 1

FOOTBALL

Adna 33, Pe Ell-Willapa Valley 0

Pe Ell-Willapa Valley kept the game close in the first half against Adna on Wednesday, but the Pirates pulled away to hand the Titans a loss in Adna.

PWV (0-4) trailed but just one score 8-0 at the half, but Adna scored 12 in the third and 13 in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.

The Titans had 111 rushing yards on 43 carries, led by sophomore Kaidan Perkins, who had 38 yards on seven carries (5.4 yards per carry).

Defensively, the Titans were led by freshman Blake Howard (nine tackles), junior Kaden Ritzman (eight tackles), senior Joseph Pulsipher (seven tackles) and sophomore Tristan Baker (seven tackles).

Sophomores Wil Clements and Garrett Keeton each recorded a sack for PWV.

PWV 0 0 0 0 — 0

Adna 8 0 12 13 — 33

MEN’S GOLF

GHC golfers place at recent meets

Grays Harbor College golfers Jaron Howell and Brady Hinds placed second and third, respectively, at the Southwest Oregon Community College Invitational on Monday at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course in North Plains, Oregon.

Howell shot a 75, one shot out of first place, for his 18-hole round, while Hinds was four strokes off the pace with a 78.

The Chokers’ Ethan Heydel tied for 13th with a score of 83.

“I’m very proud of how our guys hung in there in these wet and muddy conditions,” Chokers head coach Ann Swanson said.

On Thursday, Hinds placed ninth with a round of 79 at the Bellevue College Spring Invitational at the TPC at Snoqualimie Ridge Golf Club.