SHORELINE — In recent memory, the Columbia River girls soccer team has more often than not been the team to beat in the Class 2A playoffs.
Three state titles in the last nine years, including the most recent one in 2019, has given the Rapids that kind of pedigree.
On Friday, however, undefeated Archbishop Murphy of Everett, which won the 2018 Class 2A title, took down the defending champions 2-1 with a furious comeback late in the second half at Shoreline Stadium.
Hockinson will meet Archbishop Murphy in the championship at 5 p.m. Saturday, while River and Ridgefield will play at 1 p.m. for third place.
“We played great, stuck to the gameplan and fought our way against a very tough Archbishop Murphy team,” River head coach Filly Afenegus said. “They countered a couple times on us there at the very end, they had some excellent finishes and that was the ball game.”
River’s Ava Lapinskas drilled a free kick into the back of the net in the 49th minute to give the Rapids a 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats, however, countered with an equalizing goal from Jordyn Latta in the 69th minute, then were rewarded on a long run from Jojo Chiangpradit, who flipped a shot over River that the Rapids were unable to keep out of the goal path.
