Varsity - BHS vs Eastlake 10-2-25

Bellevue 5-0 Eastlake
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11th min Ava (Saleen)
35th Saleen PK
39th Saleen (Kasia)
68th Saleen (unassisted)
75th Raina (unassisted)

In our third game of the season, we traveled to Crusader Way and played Eastside Catholic, and had one of our better games of the season. A week after that, we drove to Spartan Way next door to EC to secure a last-minute victory over Skyline. On Thursday night, the bus entered Wolfpack Way, the last of the three adjacent high school campuses on the Sammamish Plateau. Needless to say, I had a good feeling about how the game would go. The Plateau has been very good to this team this year. 

And so it went. A comprehensive 5-0 victory in which we outshot the Eastlake Wolves 35-5, with a 8-1 corner advantage, and over 58% possession. It's rare to compliment an opposition goalkeeper after winning 5-0; however, the Eastlake goalie had an amazing night, making several acrobatic and brave challenges that kept the Wolves in the game. Equal to that compliment was our own goalkeeper, Katelyn, who only faced five shots, but stayed sharp all night, preserving our shutout (and coach cartwheel) with a fantastic full-stretch finger-tip save. I'm not sure which is more challenging, facing 35 shots and allowing only 5 goals, or facing 5 shots and never allowing the net to bulge, but in both cases, I know that the respective coaches were proud of their keeper.

We opened the scoring in the 11th minute, as Paris combined with Saleen at the top of the Eastlake box (simple square ball to feet), and the resulting shot was spilled by the Wolves' goalkeeper and Ava reacted quickest, poking the ball home from 4 yards. 1-0 Bellevue. In the 35th minute, we earned three consecutive corners, the first two of which were conventional crosses cleared by the defense. So we trying something different for the third, as Paris and Saleen took a short corner, dribbled into the box, and was promptly fouled. Saleen finished the PK smartly and it was 2-0 Bellevue.  Just a few minutes later we added our third, Paris opened up the field with an excellent cross-field switch to her opposite winger, Kasia. Kasia controlled and sent her second touch pass into space for Saleen. Two touches, shot, and it was 3-0 Bellevue. Gorgeous team goal with accurate, quick passing and lethal finishing. And a very well-earned hat-trick for our junior captain.  

At halftime, we rotated the roster and maintained consistent pressure on the Eastlake goal. In the 68th minute, after only being on the field for a minute in the second half, Saleen had her hat-trick after a sumptuous slalom through five Eastlake defenders before a cheeky finish at the near post. Raina added her own powerful run and finish in the 75th minute, outracing the entire Wolves defense from midfield before slotting the ball at the far post. 5-0 Bellevue. Final Score.

It was an excellent end to a competitive week. I even did an awkward cartwheel to celebrate the shutout. It's difficult to lose games if you don't allow the other team to score. Well done to everyone. Defense isn't just played by defenders and goalkeepers (IMO), it's a team commitment that requires everyone to do their job, from "resting back" in good shape, maintaining excellent balance, good cover angles, and being brave in the tackle and challenging in the air. Yes, our positional defenders, and goalkeeper, were great, but it was a collective team effort. Long may that continue.  

Next week we host North Creek on Tuesday, before traveling to Issauqah to face the league-leading, and #1-ranked 4A Eagles on Thursday.  If I squint at a map, I can almost convince myself that the Issaquah campus is somehow adjacent to the other three. I have a good feeling about next week.   

Enjoy Homecoming weekend. See you next week.