KELSO — Mountain View’s last girls soccer league title was so long ago, nobody with the Thunder’s 2019 squad could immediately recall the year. It could be as far back as the 1980s, some said.
With a new coaching staff, some new faces, a lot of grit and a little bit of luck, the Thunder earned the 3A Greater St. Helens League championship. Mountain View (13-3, 9-1) completed its league trek with a 2-1 overtime win over Kelso on Tuesday at Schroeder Field.
“It’s pretty memorable,” senior midfielder Kylie Ellett said. “It is a huge relief. We’re so happy.”
Oregon commit Olivia Fothergill, harassed all night by the Hilander defense, dribbled up the sideline in the 82nd minute before sending in a low cross in front of the net. A Kelso defender tried to knock it away, instead putting it into the Kelso net to give Mountain View the golden-goal win.
“It’s difficult playing away and having the Kelso student section yell every time she messes up,” Mountain View goalkeeper Waverly Iverson said of the star forward. “I know how difficult that can be and she really pushed through. That meant a lot for us.”
It was a shocking end to a well-fought match on both ends. The teams, which also went to overtime in their first meeting — a 5-4 Thunder win — each had their bright spots, and each went through their runs of fiercely defending for minutes on end. It showed off a versatile and well-rounded Mountain View side. Iverson made 11 saves, but her defense often made it easy on her. Only a handful of times did the junior goalkeeper have to extend herself.
Kylie Ellett put the Thunder on the board in the 15th minute with a rebound shot she fired low through the bevy of defenders to make it 1-0.
“I don’t score a lot,” Ellett said. “To be able to finish one in such a big game, to do for that our team and have us win league, it’s such a huge opportunity. I’m so happy.”
Kelso responded with a 26th-minute goal from Hanna Bern. There the score remained through the end of the regulation 80 minutes. With a league title on the line, the Thunder turned to its star forward one more time.
While the game-winner goes in the books as an own goal, Fothergill was the clear creator as she put one final imprint on a Thunder league title season.
“That’s what great players do,” said coach Dustin Johnson, who took over the girls program this year. “For her to just stay in the game and never completely take herself out. Really good players just need a glimpse and that’s what she got.”
Mountain View will host a bi-district game on Tuesday against an opponent to be determined. Kelso (10-5-1, 8-2) hosts Wilson on Saturday in a loser-out game.
MOUNTAIN VIEW 2, KELSO 1
Mountain View
Goals (assists) — Kylie Ellett (Alexis Sadler), Own goal; Goalkeeper saves — Waverly Iverson 11.
Kelso
Goals (assists) — Hanna Bern (Ashlee Bakunowicz); Goalkeeper saves — Tara Liebe 5.
Halftime — 1-1.
