The Edmonds-Woodway girls soccer team controlled possession for most of Tuesday’s game against Marysville-Pilchuck Tuesday night, eventually scoring the winning goal with just under 10 minutes left to give the host Warriors a 2-1 non-conference victory. Sophmore Ellie Shull scored from 8 yards out on a touch pass from freshman Alison Monroe for the go-ahead strike. “Allie had a great assist and I just saw the opening and fired it in, “ Shull said.

The Warriors pressured the Tomahawks early and often in the first half. Ashleigh Fonsen, playing at outside-mid instead of her usual defender position, launched a long cross from the left side that sailed just past a lunging Rylee Peterson. Later, Fonsen legged a shot off Pilchuk goalie Emily Dunston that Dunston let trickle free before grabbing it. Fonsen shot again less than a minute later, this time with her left foot, but it went just wide. “Ashleigh is just a constant out of the back-line and she just solidifies what we do out there,” said E-W coach Bill LeCompte.

With the first-half clock now down to under 14 minutes, the Warriors again put pressure on the Tomahawk defense. Monroe crossed to Shull, who found senior Melissa Long and Long did the rest, drilling it into the back of the M-P net for the first goal of the night.

The lead would prove to be short lived as Pilchuck responded with a goal of its own. Freshman Olivia Lee took a pass from Bianca Acuario, moved past the Warrior defense and found the back of the net with the equalizing goal with just over 10 minutes left.

Both teams had several more chances before the half, with MP’s Gabriella Crenshaw just missing from the top of the box and Warrior goalie Kiera Towell stopping a Pilchuk breakaway at the 2:40 mark. The Warriors also had a few more opportunities including shots on goal from both Long and a free kick from Fonsen that missed as the half wound down, sending the teams to the break tied at 1.

The Warriors started out the second half continuing to pressure MP. Fonsen’s corner kick with just under a minute gone created a perfect opportunity for a header, but it proved unsuccessful. Monroe had several close-call attempts and then finally, with 9:30 left in the game, Shull put the finishing touch on a mad scramble in front of the goal for what proved to be the game winner.

Protecting the lead, E-W seemed to let down its guard, allowing the Tomahawks to get into scoring situations several times. At the 3- minute mark, Pilchuck’s Crenshaw took a cross and blasted it toward the goal, but the Warriors’ Towell managed to stop it. Pilchuck had another threat at the 1:40 mark, but that too was squelched. “We have to work at finishing,” LeCompte said. “They upped the tempo. Gives us something to work on.”

The Warriors, 2-1 in non-conference play, kick off their regular season this Thursday with a tilt against Arlington. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Edmonds Stadium.

— By Jeff Smarr