The South Whidbey High School soccer team won a critical match and got a little vengeance in the process when it blanked visiting Cedar Park Christian-Bothell 5-0 Tuesday, Oct. 2.

Earlier this season when missing several key players because of injury, the Falcons lost to the Eagles 2-1. By winning Tuesday, South Whidbey evened the season series, which is important in the race for a postseason berth.

The big win was South Whidbey’s “best game of the season,” according to coach Terry Swanson.

“It was a great team effort; everyone contributed. We are getting more (injured) people back and we are jelling as a team.”

The Falcons dominated possession in the match and wasted little time jumping to the lead.

Mikenna Wicher scored three minutes in and then Karyna Hezel added two more first-half goals. Kelly Murnane and Alison Papritz assisted on Hezel’s strikes.

Ashley Ricketts score both second-half goals; Maddy Drye assisted on the first.

“We had lots of excellent passes and blind-side runs,” Swanson said.

On defense, the back four – centerbacks Drye and Sydney Ollis and fullbacks Mallory Drye and Lila McCleary – were “outstanding,” according to Swanson. Freshman keeper Molly Cobbs, in reserve for an injured Nicole Helseth, recorded her second shutout.

South Whidbey raised its conference record to 3-2 (5-4-1 overall); Cedar Park Christian dropped to 3-3 (6-5).

The Falcons now play Granite Falls (4-1, 4-4-1) in back-to-back matches. The first is in Langley at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, followed by a 6 p.m. match at Granite Falls Tuesday, Oct. 9.

Ashley Ricketts advances the ball for the Falcons in Tuesday’s win. Rickett scored two second-half goals in the contest. (Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)

Karyna Hezel scores the first of her two goals against Cedar Park Christian. (Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)