SHORELINE — If there’s been one constant for the Columbia River girls soccer team this season, it’s the Rapids’ ability to respond from a loss.
Regular season defeats to Ridgefield and Hockinson were met by winning streaks of six and seven games. A loss in the district playoffs to Ridgefield led to two state playoff wins for River and a trip to the Class 2A final four.
So after the Rapids were dealt a tough, 2-1 loss to Archbishop Murphy in the semifinals Friday night, River head coach Filly Afenegus wasn’t worried how his team would come out less than 24 hours later in the third-place match against Ridgefield.
The two teams fought Saturday through 80 scoreless minutes and two ensuing five-minute, golden-goal overtime periods without a score.
In the penalty kick shootout that followed, River goalkeeper Alia Rust dove to make a crucial save, while Andie Buckley, Ava Lapinskas, Logann Dukes and lastly, Raya Janson, found the back of the net to win the shootout 4-2 and take third place at state.
“I knew we were going to be fine,” Afenegus said. “After the game (Friday), they didn’t just bolt for their backpacks … they were all consoling each other, processing together and consoling each other. Once I saw that last night, I thought we were going to be good for today. It’s a testament to them and the leaders that we have.”
The process of getting over the defeat began when the Rapids went back to their hotel and gathered for a team meal.
Once they woke up Saturday, it was time to hit the reset button.
“I think throughout the season, we’ve been really good at focusing on the moment we’re in,” said senior Sydney Johnson. “And yeah, last night was pretty hard because we all had this vision in mind of having a super high ceiling, but we’ve always had this even greater feeling of just, we’ve got to get back to work.”
Added Rust: “Honestly, I think the way we came back is just us being a family.”
In the team’s post-game huddle, Johnson, one of River’s seven seniors, gave a teary-eyed speech to her younger teammates telling them to cherish the time they have in their high school careers.
While some had already experienced the feeling of reaching the state final four when the Rapids won it all in 2019, this latest run was for the first for many others, who are eager to get back to work for next season and beyond.
“I haven’t been here yet, I haven’t done this yet, and to get a taste of what that’s like, I’m really excited to come back next year,” said Lapinskas, a junior. “We know what we need to work on and we have strong players coming back … I think we can do good things.”
Ridgefield’s defense, led by seniors Elizabeth Farley and Ava Kruckenbueg, and goalkeeper Josie Rinta were once again strong by registering their sixth shut out in the last seven games. Rinta came up with a save in the first overtime period, before the Spudders had a scoring opportunity from a corner kick, but were unable to connect.
Farley took the Spudders’ first PK and scored, before Buckley countered to make the score 1-1.
A lengthy delay followed as officials came together to discuss a challenge made from the Ridgefield side.
According to tournament director Don Dalziel, Ridgefield head coach Jeff Lukowiak contended that River’s keeper, Rust, was inside the 18-yard box, which should’ve nullified River’s first goal.
However, the rules committee determined that both keepers stood in the wrong spot while the other was in goal, so Ridgefield was given the option to disallow both goals and start over, or continue with the 1-1 score. Ridgefield chose the latter.
The shootout resumed with Rust’s save, which proved to be the difference in River’s win. During the delay, Rust said she talked to Rinta and the two were able to calm each other’s nerves.
“We were both very anxious,” Rust said. “I just had to breathe, close my eyes and prepare for the kick.”
