PUYALLUP — It wasn’t the game they wanted to be playing, but the Camas Papermakers made the best of their final match of the 2015 girls soccer season.
With an impressive bounce-back performance on Saturday, the Papermakers beat Gonzaga Prep 2-0 to earn third place in the Class 4A state tournament.
Sarah Davidson and Alyssa Tomasini scored the goals and Camas left Sparks Stadium with two consecutive shutouts to cap a program-best 20-win season.
“We’re just proud that we made it this far,” senior Anyssa De Vera said. “We definitely deserved a first place with our effort and our work, but third place is good for us.”
Camas finished with 20 wins, two losses (one on PKs) and one tie. In the fourth final four for the girls soccer program, the Papermakers took third place for the second time. Camas was the 3A state champion in 2005, placed third in 3A in 2009 and fourth in 4A in 2012.
Camas controlled most of the game on Saturday, despite taking the field less than 14 hours after losing to Issaquah on penalty kicks after playing 90 minutes of scoreless soccer in Friday’s semifinal.
Despite the disappointment and the physical nature of Friday’s game, the Papermakers found plenty of energy for their final match of the season.
“It was an amazing end to our senior year to be able to come to the final four,” co-captain Amanda Shi said. “Honestly, last night was such a good game, one of my favorite games that I’ve played in high school. Issaquah is such a good team. That was a great game to play in. And coming back today with a win is a great end to my senior year.”
Shi nearly put Camas in front in the opening minute, forcing Gonzaga Prep goalkeeper Zoe Boleneus to make the first of her nine saves.
Davidson scored in the 25th minute. The junior forward took a pass from Perri Belzer and took her time on a low well-placed shot from 12 yards.
Camas built momentum as the game progressed and created multiple chances before Tomasini delivered the finishing blow in the 67th minute. Off a corner kick, the ball was touched by several players before it landed for Tomasini to strike from 15 yards just to the left of goal.
“It felt great. Finally!,” said Tomasini, who produced several near goals prior to converting. “When that ball came back to me, I thought ‘I’m just going to go for it and see if it goes in.’ ”
Twenty players saw action for Camas, depth that certainly helped the Papermakers shake off any cobwebs. By winning the majority of contested balls, the Papermakers kept quiet a Bullpups offense that had double-digit shots in Friday’s semifinal, also a scoreless draw that the Spokane school lost on penalty kicks.
Gonzaga Prep’s one solid scoring chance was headed clear of danger from the goal mouth by Hannah Taie in the 36th minute. Camas finished with a 22-3 advantage in shots, 11-2 on target.
“Everyone just works well together and it shows were a team,” summed up De Vera, who played central defender for the first time in her four high school seasons and helped the Papermakers surrender only three goals over their last 19 games. “We can do anything together.”
CAMAS 2, GONZAGA PREP 0
Gonzaga Prep
Goalkeeper saves — Zoe Boleneus 9.
Camas (20-2-1)
Goals (assists) — Sarah Davidson (Perri Belzer), Alyssa Tomasini (unassisted). Goalkeeper saves — Julia Coombs 2, Katelyn Melia 0.
Halftime — Camas 1-0.
