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R.A. Long's Addison Hartley converges on Brooklyn Schlecht of Mark Morris during the first half of a 5-0 win over the Monarchs at Longview Memorial Stadium, Tuesday, Sept. 20.
Kathryn Chapin of R.A. Long boots the ball toward the goal during a 5-0 win over Mark Morris at Longview Memorial Stadium, Tuesday, Sept. 20. Chapin scored two goals in the first half.
A soccer player prepares to kick the ball during a match on a local field.
It’s been said that it doesn’t matter so much how you start, but how you finish. Tuesday night it was R.A. Long coach Taylor Wallace reciting the old axiom as he coaxed his team to a 5-0 win over their rivals from Mark Morris beneath a gold glow of an autumnal sunset and the roar of a frenetic crowd at Longview Memorial Stadium.
With those helpful reminders from its coach, R.A. Long was able to take care of business on both ends of the match.
The Lumberjills came out hot as the sun that cast their long shadows across the pitch, scoring three goals in the first 17 minutes of game time. That blazing start was at least partially powered by the lingering vapors of their historic win over Columbia River last week, which was by all accounts the first time R.A. Long soccer had ever gotten the best of the Rapids.
R.A. Long and Mark Morris girls soccer players battle for the ball at midfield during a league match at Longview Memorial Stadium, Tuesday, Sept. 20. The Lumberjills won 5-0.
“Coming off of River’s game we knew we couldn’t stoop down and let our guards down,” said R.A. Long forward Kathryn Chapin. “We had to come out in this game just like we did against River, knowing they were good, so that’s what got us going in the first few minutes.”
Chapin had a foot in two of those opening scores, punching in a penalty kick in the 10th minute and then taking a pass from Alice Anderson in the 17th minute and then introducing the ball to the mesh of the net to put the Lumberjills up 3-0.
Nina Soetamin of Mark Morris braces for impact after R.A. Long's Audrey Zdunich booted a ball high in the air during the first half of a rivalry match at Longview Memorial Stadium, Tuesday, Sept. 20. The Lumberjills went on to win 5-0.
In between Chapin’s goals, Alice Anderson got in on the action with a score assisted by Audrey Zdunich in the 15th minute.
“Before the game we talked about the difference between confidence and overconfidence,” R.A. Long coach Taylor Wallace said. “I think we kind of got their heads back on straight after a big win.”
Macee Farquhar of Mark Morris leaps and contorts her body while trying to get a head on the ball during a corner kick. The Monarchs fell 5-0 to R.A. Long at Longview Memorial Stadium, Tuesday, Sept. 20.
That big win helped to drum up excitement in the halls of Longview’s original high school, and that energy spilled over into the stadium for the rivalry affair. With a noisy student section decked out in colorful vests the Lumberjills put on a show for their newfound shock of fans.
“We try to get everyone to come to our games during school and it gives us satisfaction knowing we were able to get this many people,” Chapin said. “And then also it helps because they’re all cheering for us and it motivates us to play well.”
Wallace believes the outpouring of support for his team had been building up before burbling over Tuesday night. That groundswell was capped by a storming of the field by a student section armed with water bottles that erupted like the Bellagio Fountains as the fans and players converged into one mass of postgame elation near the 50-yard line.
R.A. Long's Kathryn Chapin controls the ball with her body during the first half of a match against Mark Morris, Tuesday, Sept. 20 at Longview Memorial Stadium. Chapin scored two goals in the first 17 minutes.
“I think it’s the culture that we are developing at R.A. Long. They are very supportive of one another,” Wallace said. “When you have positivity in a program then you’re going to build positivity. It started with our boys program and we’re kind of like one program — we share everything. So I’m glad they are enjoying it. It’s good to see kids out on something other than a Friday night. Not that I begrudge that one bit.”
After taking their three-goal lead into the intermission the Lumberjills bogged down a bit in the second half. Mark Morris put up the first two shots of the half and the dominance that RAL had displayed early on faded with the daylight.
“I think we dropped it down a gear and I think they noticed and responded,” Wallace said. “They smelled a little bit of blood in the water and took their opportunities, but I think we found it again. We closed out really strong.”
Indeed, the Jills were able to shift gears again before the final whistle, and never did allow Mark Morris to make any meaningful charges at the goal. The Monarchs managed just four shots on goal in the match as RAL goalkeeper Kendra Chapin spent most of the evening directing traffic and enjoying scenery.
Macee Farquhar of Mark Morris controls the ball with her body during the first half of a match against R.A. Long, Tuesday, Sept. 21, at Longview Memorial Stadium. The Monarchs lost 5-0.
“Their strength is our weakness. They’ve got speed up top that we struggled with… When you’re playing behind it’s tough with a team like that. They’re a good squad so kudos to them,” Mark Morris coach Gary Bennett said. “I thought the second half we played a lot better. I thought we tightened it up and did a better job of not letting anyone get behind us but we just could not quite get our offense going.”
That defense broke down in the final five minutes, though, as the Lumberjills tacked on a pair of goals just in time to work the crowd up into a tizzy once more.
After being bulldozed by MM goalkeeper Emersyn Thompson in the box Alice Anderson broke the second half seal by sinking a penalty kick in the 75th minute to earn herself a brace. About three minutes later Zdunich notched a stoppage time goal with a strong boot on a one-on-one opportunity.
R.A. Long's Alice Anderson (9) is flattened by Mark Morris goalkeeper Emersyn Thompson during the closing minutes of a 5-0 win for the Lumberjills. Anderson sank the ensuing penalty kick for her second goal of the night.
“The PK kind of broke our spirits, because we were battling, but we kind of exhaled at that point and we were just done, waiting for the horn,” Bennett said. “My keeper, though, a freshman, Emersyn, these were her first varsity minutes, really, and I thought she played phenomenal. She’s got a bright future for us.”
As the red and black mob celebrated on the pitch Kathryn Chapin reflected on the play of her teammates who set the Lumberjills up for success.
“In literally every single game Emily Anderson and Madi Fierst at center back, they hold our team together,” Chapin said. “And Alice, she assists half of my goals so she’s the key not just to the team’s playing, but my playing too.”
Wallace had several other players who jumped to the forefront of his mind as he pondered who had helped to put his Jills in a position to post a shutout.
Delanie Zueger of R.A. Long kicks the ball up field during a rivalry match against Mark Morris, Tuesday, Sept. 20, at Longview Memorial Stadium. The Lumberjills won 5-0.
“Our back line always does a good job anchoring us, so always props to them,” Wallace began. “Our midfielders, especially our defensive midfielders Gracelyn House and Audrey Zdunich, I think they worked really well with each other today and compressed their space a little bit and did a great job of playing their roles, and they really aren’t glamorous roles. We call it ‘The Hole’ for a reason.”
R.A. Long's Audrey Zdunich celebrates with her teammates after scoring a goal in stoppage time during a 5-0 win over Mark Morris at Longview Memorial Stadium, Tuesday, Sept. 20.
R.A. Long (3-2, 2-1 league) will host Washougal on Thursday starting at 6 p.m..
Mark Morris (1-5, 1-2 league) will host Woodland on Thursday at the Northlake Field beginning at 5 p.m.
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Friday night football scores from around The Daily News coverage area.
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R.A. Long's Addison Hartley converges on Brooklyn Schlecht of Mark Morris during the first half of a 5-0 win over the Monarchs at Longview Memorial Stadium, Tuesday, Sept. 20.
Nina Soetamin of Mark Morris braces for impact after R.A. Long's Audrey Zdunich booted a ball high in the air during the first half of a rivalry match at Longview Memorial Stadium, Tuesday, Sept. 20. The Lumberjills went on to win 5-0.
Macee Farquhar of Mark Morris leaps and contorts her body while trying to get a head on the ball during a corner kick. The Monarchs fell 5-0 to R.A. Long at Longview Memorial Stadium, Tuesday, Sept. 20.
R.A. Long's Kathryn Chapin controls the ball with her body during the first half of a match against Mark Morris, Tuesday, Sept. 20 at Longview Memorial Stadium. Chapin scored two goals in the first 17 minutes.
Macee Farquhar of Mark Morris controls the ball with her body during the first half of a match against R.A. Long, Tuesday, Sept. 21, at Longview Memorial Stadium. The Monarchs lost 5-0.
R.A. Long's Audrey Zdunich celebrates with her teammates after scoring a goal in stoppage time during a 5-0 win over Mark Morris at Longview Memorial Stadium, Tuesday, Sept. 20.
R.A. Long's Alice Anderson (9) is flattened by Mark Morris goalkeeper Emersyn Thompson during the closing minutes of a 5-0 win for the Lumberjills. Anderson sank the ensuing penalty kick for her second goal of the night.
Delanie Zueger of R.A. Long kicks the ball up field during a rivalry match against Mark Morris, Tuesday, Sept. 20, at Longview Memorial Stadium. The Lumberjills won 5-0.
Kathryn Chapin of R.A. Long boots the ball toward the goal during a 5-0 win over Mark Morris at Longview Memorial Stadium, Tuesday, Sept. 20. Chapin scored two goals in the first half.
R.A. Long and Mark Morris girls soccer players battle for the ball at midfield during a league match at Longview Memorial Stadium, Tuesday, Sept. 20. The Lumberjills won 5-0.
A soccer player prepares to kick the ball during a match on a local field.
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