The Edmonds-Woodway High School girls soccer team beat previously undefeated Bellevue 3-0 in the state 3A semi-finals and will be playing Saturday for the State 3A Championship.  As she has all season long, junior Madison Schulz led the Warrior attack, this time scoring all three goals, a rare hat-trick in post-season.

“It’s crazy, I think I’m in shock,” said senior forward Rylee Peterson.

“I don’t know how to describe it,” said Schultz. “I’ve played in so many big games, but playing with this group of girls with so much on the line, it’s just unreal.”

Bellevue controlled possession for the first 20 minutes, but had no goals to show for it. Schultz broke open a scoreless game at the 27-minute mark, taking a perfect ball from Peterson on the right wing and beating four Wolverine defenders for a left-footed hook shot into the upper right corner of the net to open up the scoring on the night.

“I think our first goal made it a reality,” Peterson said. “Our plan was to just play quick and I think it was our plan tonight. I know if I get the ball to Maddy, she’s going to do something good with it.”

Friday’s game was a rematch of sorts, after Bellevue beat E-W 2-1 in the second game of the season.  “I think Bellevue came into the game thinking they were the better team, but I think they realized as the game went on, that we were just as good, if not better,” goalie Kiera Towell said.

Eight minutes after the first goal, Schultz found herself in traffic on the left side of the net. Feeling pressure, Schultz — who played for the U.S. U-17 national team — lofted a ball that glanced off the outstretched hands of the Wolverine goaltender, settling safely into the back right corner of the net. That put the Warriors ahead 2-0, a lead that would stand through the end of the first half.

“We played well. We played a better game against them the second time,” Warrior coach Bill LeCompte said. “We put so much pressure on ourselves. We took a step back and just breathed a little bit.”

Warrior goalie Towell was a huge factor in the shutout. “Kierra, she’s just so solid back there, “Schultz said.

Ten minutes in, Bellevue’s Sophie Butterfield fired a shot off Towell and Ashleigh Towsen cleared it out for E-W. Moments later, Butterfield found herself again on point against Towell, and again the E-W goalie guessed right, catching the shot in the chest. “Sometimes it’s just dumb luck, but usually you just read it,” Towell said.

The Wolverines tried to make a game of it in the second half, continuing to put pressure on the Warriors early. With 33:30 left,Towell stopped a header off a corner kick and moments later, the Wolverines’ leading scorer Jojo Harber beat three defenders, but missed just high on an open look. “Kiera definitely helped us in goal tonight, “ LeCompte said.

At the 25-minute mark, Harber again took control first, firing off the post and moments later missing wide right. Two minutes later, on a breakaway, Harber would miss just right.“She’s a good player,” said LeCompte. “Our legs got a little tired. She is what she is. She stood tall. “

The Warriors’ best defender, Ashleigh Fonsen, was yellow carded at the 23-minute mark on block at midfield, but Harber also was yellowed a few minute later for bumping into Towell.

With just under six minutes left, the Warriors sealed the deal as Schultz completed her hat trick. Taking a pass ahead from Hailey Hull just before the ball crossed the end line, she finished with her left foot for her third and final goal of the night. “I know I’m the goal scorer, but I’m so glad I have teammates that know to get me the ball so I can score,” Schultz said.

The Warriors will take on Southridge for the State Championship Saturday at 2 p.m. at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup.

“This is pretty big. This is way bigger than anything I’ve ever been involved with,” Peterson said. “I’m just overwhelmed. As the season goes on, we’re more of just a family. As the tournament goes on, we just get better. “I’m not sure we’ll sleep tonight.”

Scoring:

1^st half:

Schultz 12:40(Peterson)

Schultz 5:15

2^nd half:

Schultz 5:50 (Hull)

— By Jeff Smarr