Chargers allow goal in final minute in tie with Royals

LYNNWOOD — Finishing a game might be the most difficult aspect of winning — just ask the Chargers.

Marysville Getchell took a lead into the final minute of regulation against Lynnwood Sept. 29 before eventually settling for a 2-2 tie.

"I think we have a difficulty in that last five minutes finishing it out," said manager Wayne Nash. "We had chances but we just let it slip away."

It was the second consecutive lead the Chargers took late into a match before being unable to get the win, having taken a 5-4 loss to Meadowdale just two days earlier.

At times Getchell dominated every aspect on the pitch, maintaining possession and applying pressure all over the field. In fact, Nash's girls owned the ball for most of the match, but Lynnwood was able to make the most out of its few chances.

The Royals scored first on a set piece at a corner of the 18-yard box in just the fifth minute, that advantage didn't last long.

Showing a potent offense, the Chargers tied the score in the 19th minute and took the lead just two minutes later. Getting Getchell on the board first was Catherine Banks with a floater from 30 feet out after an MG corner had been cleared from the box that fell in perfectly over the Lynnwood keeper's hands.

The following goal came from midfielder Julianna LaBrake, who personified determination by getting her own rebound from a set piece that was blocked by a wall of Royals. Get sprinted the 10 yards to retrieve it before the four walled Royals could recover, and then the beat two more defenders in the box before striking it low and to the far corner to give her team a 2-1 lead.

LaBrake, a junior, and Kaylie Green controlled the midfield for the Chargers. When both were in the game, Getchell often ran a direct offense that produced a number of scoring chances.

"They are the leaders on the team," said Nash. "They know what to do to keep us holding the ball and keep attacking."

The second half proved to be the messier of the two, with not much materializing until the 90th minute when Lynnwood junior Melissa Gueiros scored the equalizer just before time expired during a Royals corner kick.

After relinquishing the lead, Getchell rebounded in overtime to not let Lynnwood have a scoring chance while creating a pair of near scores but didn't wind up sealing the win.

After finishing the first half of the season 1-4-2, Nash said he's confident in his team's ability to improve.

"I think that if we can just get everybody healthy, this is a team that has the ability to beat the Everetts and the Glacier Peaks," he said. "Some days we're just dominant and that's when we have everybody available."

Contact Marysville Globe Sports Reporter Travis Sherer at tsherer@marysvilleglobe.com or 360 659-1300 Ext. 5054.

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