SK duels with Woodinville tonight in state quarterfinals

When the South Kitsap High School girls soccer team faces the Woodinville Falcons tonight in a state quarterfinal match at Bothell’s Pop Keeney Stadium at 7 p.m. it may discover it’s looking at a mirror image of themselves.

That depends on the health status of SK’s defenders.

The Falcons (17-1) and the Wolves (14-1-3) are used to low-scoring games. They pride themselves on defense and let the intangibles decide the game.

In SK’s 2-1 against Cascade, SK was without three-fifths of its starting defense, with Jamae Feddock and Karla Myles out with illnesses, and Emilee Ashby out with an eye socket injury suffered in the 3-1 win against Federal Way last week.

SK coach Gary Trautman said Feddock will probably be ready to play but Myles and Ashby may be out of action.

SK’s reserve defenders didn’t skip a beat.

Juniors Nicole Schoonover, who has seen loads of action this year, and Jessica Splain filled in on defense, along with freshman Lauren Kruzner.

Trautman lauded the play of his defense, which is anchored by freshman sweeper Randee Robinson and senior goalkeeper Megan Morey.

Junior midfielder Stephanie Solarek said the team showed its talent runs deeper than the starters.

“We were missing four of our best players but everyone stepped up,” Solarek said. “That’s a big motivator because everyone is pumped up now.”

On offense SK should have Amanda Bolz back, Trautman said. She suffered a concussion against Federal Way last week.

SK’s offense has ridden on the foot of senior Narrows League Bridge Divison

MVP Sarah Groves, who has scored SK’s last five goals, added her 17th and 18th goals of the season against Cascade.

One intangible in SK’s favor could be Groves’ playmaking ability on free kicks.

Give her 50 yards and less and you can consider it a scoring opportunity.

While Cascade was tough, Woodinville may have the toughest defense next to Tahoma.

Woodinville defenders April Kyrkos, Stephanie Olson and Lindsay Mercier

and goalkeeper Beth Lippert combined for a shutout against Curtis Wednesday night.

Much like the Berlin Wall, it may take a sledge hammer to break through that barrier.

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