Pullman soccer to state

Becky Birchett scored two goals on two assists from GNL first-team midfielder Hannah Adams, and Pullman held off a late rally from Ephrata, earning a state playoff berth with a 2-1 victory on Saturday.

"As a whole, I'm really pleased," Pullman coach Doug Winchell said. "It's just great for these girls who have worked really hard since June to get back to state."

Pullman recovered from a hiccup last Tuesday when it lost to East Valley 1-0, forcing the team to play Ephrata in a loser-out, winner-to-state playoff game.

The first half edge went to Pullman with 11 shots. In the 15th minute, Pullman finally scored when Birchett received a pass from Adams, and buried a shot into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

Pullman added to its lead in the second half, when nice ball movement led to an Adams pass to Birchett, who scored her second goal in the 60th minute.

But the second half was mostly dominated by Ephrata, and it got on the board in the second half on a shot by Haley Berryman that slipped past Dakota Wickard, getting the Tigers back in the game.

Ephrata applied pressure late and got seven shots in the second half, but the final whistle was blown as Ephrata was about to take a corner-kick to try and tie the game.

GNL first team goalkeeper Wickard made eight saves to help get Pullman to state.

Ephrata was able to stop GNL offensive MVP Laura DeWald and GNL second-team forward Bre Daugherty, but that allowed Birchett to get free and score.

"(Birchett's) very soccer savvy," Winchell said. "She's very competitive, she is a physical player. It's great to have her back contributing and scoring goals."

Pullman will play Wednesday in the first round of the state playoffs when the Greyhounds travel to play East Valley-Yakima. Pullman has played them three times before in the state playoffs and has never won.

"They are really good," Winchell said. "We are going to have to go in and play physical and go in with a good game plan, be smart and pack it in a little bit, play for a counter and see how it goes."

Pullman 1 1 - 2

Ephrata 0 1 - 1

First Half

Pull, 1 - Becky Birchett Goal (Hannah Adams assist), 15th minute

Second Half

Pull, 2 - Birchett (Adams assist), 60th minute

E, 1 - Haley Berryman

Statistics

Shots: Pullman-16, Ephrata 10; Saves: Pullman- Dakota Wickard-8,

Ephrata-Kayla Brissey-13; Corners Pullman- 6, Ephrata-3