Prep girls soccer: Gallagher’s crazy goal lifts Tigers to district title over Riverhawks

TENINO — As soon as Haley Gallagher launched her shot in the 49th minute, she was praying.

The Napavine High School girls soccer forward was seemingly playing ping pong with the ball and finally, put everything behind the third shot. It sailed for several seconds.

“Please God, get this in,” Gallagher said. “Last hurrah, boom.”

Prayer = answered.

One of the wackiest goals that hit the goal line near the bottom right post and then went into the top right corner of the net from Gallagher was the only tally in elevating the Tigers to a 1-0 triumph over Toledo to hoist the Class 2B District 4 trophy on Saturday night.

It marks the first district title for Napavine ever and it may be in a position to host at bare minimum the first round of the state tournament that begins on Tuesday.

“They are resilient, man,” Tigers first-year head coach John Bates said. “Just toughed it out. It is all about them.”

Bates has been the coach at the top of the mountain within the district for so long at Kalama. Now, he has taken the reins of a program known for coming up short in the postseason and not playing into late November.

Which, when practice started, Bates didn’t think Napavine (15-2) would be as good as it has turned out to be.

“Took a lot of work, never coached so hard in my life,” Bates stated. “Just be there for them, try to be positive.”

Most of the girls have been a part of success in other sports, whether in basketball, softball or seen it for volleyball. Soccer has recently come up short.

Not on Saturday night. 

And not in front of a crowd littered with Napavine supporters.

“For soccer, this is one of the biggest accomplishments we’ve had in this school,” midfielder Hayden Kaut said. 

Gallagher’s goal 25 percent through the second half came at a time where the Tigers started to generate chances. They were trying to keep up with the speed of the Riverhawks on Tenino’s turfed field.

To head into halftime scoreless was a victory in Gallagher’s mind.

“We went (into) the second half with more motivation,” she said. “If it wasn’t for the motivation and pushing of our coach, I don’t think we would be here today.”

The Riverhawks used their speed that has allowed them to play wide and simply run by or right next to defenders. Xtyn Norberg and Peyton Holter wreaked havoc in the opening 40 minutes.

Toledo (10-7-1) was called for offsides in the 25th minute, then quickly afterwards, Onica Chase bended a free kick just outside the 18-yard box that caromed off the side of the net.

Horst Malunat felt if a goal was scored, the dynamic of the match turns on a dime.

“Ultimately, we’re playing aggressive and hard, we just finished that game,” Malunat said. “I was surprised we didn’t score. We left the door open for them.”

Holter had the best chance of the night.

She timed a run perfectly in the 68th minute and got behind the Tigers defense. She had a one-on-one with Taylen Evander for the equalizing opportunity.

Holter went bottom left and Evander dove and knocked the ball away. Napavine cleared it and staved off a final push from Toledo.

“We don’t get to hold a trophy, but I told the girls, trophies collect dust and we have each other,” Malunat said. “That’s all that matters. We’re getting better on the turf.”

Since the postseason started, the Tigers have not played to their regular season standard. In the semifinal versus Adna, they were slow at times. Bates felt the Riverhawks fully dominated them in the first half of the title match.

Kaut sees that and isn’t panicking.

“If we’re on, we’re going to be really good,” the junior said.