The past two Novembers, Union senior Camille Darland was on a volleyball court, foregoing her favorite sport for something a little warmer.
The Titans girls soccer team is certainly glad she returned to the pitch this season. With Darland anchoring the defense, Union has allowed just seven goals on the year. The Titans recorded their 13th shutout of the season in a 1-0 shootout win over Lake Stevens in the 4A State first round on Wednesday at McKenzie Stadium. Union advances to face Inglemoor (13-1-3) on Saturday in the quarterfinals.
“Volleyball was fun and all, but I missed soccer the whole time,” Darland said. “I wanted to play senior year with my team, and play with all these girls.”
Darland’s first love has always been soccer. But after battling through a minor knee injury her freshman year with the Titans, she knew a break from the sport was a necessity. She continued to play soccer nine months per year with the Washington Timbers. But the falls of her sophomore and junior years, she spent the club-soccer offseason with the Union volleyball team.
“I didn’t want to get burnt out or injured,” Darland said. “I just needed a little break.”
She was always welcomed back, though, and when she wanted her senior year to be spent with her soccer companions, the Titans knew they had something special brewing. Darland was recently named the 4A GSHL Player of the Year. It didn’t come as a surprise to coach Kelcey Burris.
“Camille is one of the most improved players I’ve ever seen from a freshman to where she’s at now,” Burris said. “We’re just glad she came back. She’s really added another piece to us.”
On Wednesday, she was again in top form after signing her National Letter of Intent to play soccer for Western Oregon University earlier in the day. She guided a stifling Union (12-3-3) defense that held Lake Stevens (13-3-3) at bay for most of the match. The Vikings, though, found a pair of opportunities late.
Union goalkeeper Taylor Tinnon was up to the task on both saves, parrying away a breakaway in the 72nd minute and stretching out to stop a long free kick in the 77th to keep the game scoreless entering the extra periods.
“That gets us fired up,” Darland said of Tinnon’s stops. “We want to do it for Taylor, because she’s making all these saves.”
Neither team could find its way in the dense fog that draped McKenzie, settling for a 0-0 tie entering the shootout, when Darland again was called on.
This time she was asked to score as the first shooter in the Titans’ lineup. She pounded the ball into the back of the net with ease.
“I like being first; I hate watching,” Darland said. “That just sets the stage for the other people to see they can do it. It just builds everybody’s confidence.”
Erin Beniga and Annabelle Nguyen also made their kicks; Audrey Moehring’s was saved. Lake Stevens bounced one off the upright and missed one wide to leave the door open for junior midfielder Abbey Kaip, who calmly approached and sent hers into the net for Union’s first state win since 2013.
“I’m just thinking I have to hit it in the back of the net,” Kaip said. “I can’t miss this for my team.”
The Titans have allowed just one goal in the past 12 games. They’ve gone 9-1-2 in that span. Union’s quarterfinal opponent, Inglemoor, averages two goals per game. Inglemoor beat Bellarmine Prep 2-1 in the opening round Wednesday.
