SHORELINE — Ellie Seekins: “She scores big goals.”
The Hockinson junior has earned a reputation, and coach Joe Chicks’ praise, for scoring in the biggest of moments. Friday’s state semifinal match was no different.
Seekins spotted up from 28 yards in the 72nd minute, finding the gap in between the post and Ridgefield keeper Paige Jones’ outstretched arms to break a scoreless tie. Six minutes later Megan Meindersee ensured the Hawks would make their first state title-game appearance with a 2-0 win over the rival Spudders on Friday at Shoreline Stadium. Meindersee, a Central Washington University signee, raised her arms to the heavens in celebration as her long-distance shot slipped into the net.
“Finally,” Chicks said. “We felt for the past couple years we were good enough. … We didn’t want to just win; we wanted to deserve it. And I believe these kids, they deserve it.”
This has been a long time coming for the Hawks (16-6-1), who won the regular-season 2A Greater St. Helens League title a year ago before settling for third this season. But the Hawks snuck into the state tournament, courtesy of a Seekins goal against Tumwater in a loser-out match. (Remember, she scores big goals.) They then rattled off a shootout win and 3-0 victory to make the program’s first semifinal. Hockinson refused to let the magical run end Friday.
“We’re leaving a legacy,” Meindersee said. “That’s what we were going after. We want to prove ourselves as a team. We’re always coming in as the underdogs. This proves our spot. We’re not the team everyone looks past now. We are the team.”
The Hawks dictated the tempo from start to finish. While Ridgefield (17-5) looked dangerous in its attacking chances — all of which Hockinson keeper Madison Perry was privy to — it was Hockinson in control. Brooke Grosz, a Western Washington Unniversity, continued to make dangerous runs down the left wing, and Ridgefield didn’t have an answer.
With University of Portland signee and Ridgefield captain Annika Farley battling injury in the middle of the field, the Spudders lacked cohesion going forward. Still, the Spudders were unfortunate to not find the net in the first half when Ella Krause’s slippery shot struck the upright and rolled along the goal line before being cleared by Ellie Ritter.
“Tempo is so much of what we do, so we wondered where they were going to play Annika and how healthy she was. Obviously she’s going places and is a heck of a player,” Chicks said. “Depending on where they had her, we were prepared for a couple different scenarios.”
The Hawks, who couldn’t find many threats in the penalty area, finally took a try from distance. The 72nd-minute strike was nothing short of sublime, as Seekins wrote her name in history.
“We’re so happy,” Seekins said. “Everyone is crying after every single playoff game. It’s just really important to us.”
Hockinson will face the winner of Columbia River and Selah in the 2A State title game at 4 p.m. Saturday. Ridgefield will compete in the third-place game at noon.
HOCKINSON 2, RIDGEFIELD 0
Ridgefield
Goalkeeper saves — Paige Jones 5.
Hockinson
Goal (assist) — Ellie Seekins (Brooke Grosz), Megan Meindersee (Grace Abbott); Goalkeeper saves — Amanda Jeschke 1, Madison Perry 5.
Halftime — 0-0.
