EAST BREMERTON — South Kitsap senior Hailey Parker earned Narrows League 4A MVP honors earlier this week. Parker proved her value Wednesday in the Wolves Class 4A state tournament game against Union at Silverdale Stadium. Parker scored a minute into the second half to kickstart South Kitsap in a 3-1 victory that sends the Wolves in the quarterfinal round for the first time since 2011. South Kitsap (13-2) plays Jackson (14-4-1) at 5 p.m. Saturday at Everett Memorial Stadium in the quarterfinal round. Parker, who has been playing through a strained hip flexor and was slowed in the preseason while overcoming a broken patella, didnt anticipate claiming most valuable player honors. It was unexpected because there is a lot of competition in this league, said Parker, who led South Kitsap in scoring as a sophomore and junior before transitioning to defensive midfielder this fall. It was my goal at the beginning of the season. I set goals for myself to be the best I can be. And MVP was my goal and I reached it. I was ecstatic. The Wolves as a whole felt ecstasy after knocking off Union (14-4-2). The Titans, making their third consecutive appearance in the state tournament, were denied a quarterfinal bid after reaching the round of eight last season. Union came out with pace early, putting the Wolves on their heels during the opening 10 minutes. Everything Id heard about them was true, South Kitsap coach Julie Cain said. They are a very high-pressure team. After a scoreless first half, Cain told her team to work on possessing the ball more in the midfield. The Wolves responded by banging home a goal in the 41st minute with Parker providing the finish. Kylee Platt crossed from the left and the ball took a deflection just outside the penalty spot. It bounced Parker, who hammered it into the upper right portion of goal for a 1-0 lead. I made sure I stayed over the ball, Parker said. It delighted Cain to see Parker put her team up a goal. If theres one player that we take off and it changes the game, its her, Cain said. If you look at where shes scoring goals, its in our biggest games. Cain said forward Rachael Prince was also deserving of MVP consideration. Prince showed why in the 45th minute by putting South Kitsap up 2-0. The Wolves played a long ball into Unions goal area, forcing Titans goalkeeper Morgan Spieth to venture off her goal line. At the same time, Union defender Angelina Krawczyk mishit a clearing attempt. The ball went right to Prince, who quickly struck a left-footed shot into an empty net before Spieth could recover. Union pulled within 2-1 in the 64th minute when Alexa Bowmer converted a header from in close following a corner kick. Five minutes later, the Titans saw their best chance at tying the game denied when South Kitsap goalkeeper Elisa Randel blocked a shot by Mikayla Woods after Woods split a pair of defenders. In the final minute of play, Prince broke through for a breakaway and got a shot past Spieth before being taken out by the goalkeeper. Ashlan Burris tapped the ball in over the goal line to finish off the Titans. After the game, Cain joked about motivating her team during intermission. I think I gave the worst halftime talk Ive ever given and they went out and scored two (quick) goals, Cain said. I told (assistant coach Christina Boddie) that it doesnt matter what I say. South Kitsap 3, Union 1 Second half—1, SK, Hailey Parker (Kylee Platt), 41st. 2, SK, Rachael Prince, 45th. 3, Union, Alexa Bowmer (Alex Sanders) 64th. 4, SK, Ashlan Burris (Prince) 80th.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 06:04:35 +0000
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