CAMAS — Lightning doesn’t strike in the same place twice, but the same can’t be said for Thunder.
Particularly Thunder senior Olivia Fothergill.
The Mountain View forward scored two nearly identical goals three minutes apart in a 2-0 win over Prairie on Thursday at Doc Harris Stadium.
Those second-half goals, both rocketed into the upper reaches of the net from 25 yards out, kept the Thunder alive in the 3A bi-district tournament and beyond.
Mountain View (14-4-1) clinched a 3A state tournament berth as either the No. 5 or 6 seed from the bi-district tournament. The Thunder will play a seeding game against Kelso or Stadium on Saturday.
Prairie (8-10-1) saw its season end despite three shots hitting the crossbar on Thursday.
For a match that was fairly even in possession and scoring chances, those two moments of brilliance by Fothergill made the difference.
Last season’s 3A Greater St. Helens League MVP struck first with 22 minutes remaining. Three minutes later, the Oregon committ doubled the lead for a Mountain View team that hadn’t mounted many threats to Prairie’s goal.
“We weren’t taking many shots because I think we were afraid we were too far out,” Fothergill said. “I had a lot of space, so I just took it.”
Though Fothergill’s goals got the glory, just as important was the play of Mountain View’s defense. Senior central defender Nina Allen twarted at least three dangerous Prairie chances. Goalkeeper Waverly Iverson made six saves.
“We’ve had really good communication,” Allen said. “We know where each other goes so we’re able to recover well for each other. We have a good goalkeeper, good midfielders and forwards who drop back when they need to.”
Mountain View beat Prairie twice in the regular season, 2-0 and 1-0. In the third shutout of the Falcons on Thursday, the defense’s solid play helped inspire Fothergill when it was time to strike.
“It’s motivating because they’re having to take hard hits from the other team’s forwards,” Fothergill said. “Them holding it down back there is the only way we can win.”
Fresh off its first league title in at least 30 years, the Thunder are headed to state having cleared the bi-district hurdle that tripped them last season.
And the Thunder are high on confidence.
“It feels like anything’s possible,” Fothergill said. “Watch out for us. Don’t underestimate us because we’re coming.”
MOUNTAIN VIEW 2, PRAIRIE 0
Prairie
Goalkeeper saves — Allison Corral 4.
Mountain View
Goals (assists) — Olivia Fothergill (unassisted), Fothergill (unassisted). Goalkeeper saves — Waverly Iverson 6.
Halftime — 0-0.
