In a game the Mountlake Terrace Hawks needed to win in order to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, it was the defending 3A state champions Edmonds-Woodway Warriors that showed why they will be heading back to the postseason this year in hopes of defending their title.

The Warriors came from behind to defeat the Hawks 4-1 in a Wesco 3A match Tuesday night at Edmonds Stadium.

Warriors Gabby Clark and Ellie Shull each had two goals in the E-W win. Sophomore Donnya Kvinge scored the lone goal for Mountlake Terrace.

Kvinge’s goal put the Hawks up early in the matchup with a remarkable effort off a free kick in the 12^th minute. From just a few yards from the right sidelines, Kvinge floated a ball deep that clanged off the far post just under the crossbar, surprising everyone on both teams and putting the Hawks up 1-0.

But after the Kvinge goal, it was all Edmonds-Woodway as the Warriors wore down Mountlake Terrace with one offensive attack after another. “Where we lacked in defensive shape and defensive intensity, they were able to capitalize with the space we provided,” said Mountlake Terrace coach Evan Hatch.

The Warriors found space in the Hawk 18-yard box throughout the match, especially on long throw-ins. E-W’s Chiara Serafini assisted on two goals with sideline throws, the first to Shull in the 17^th minute, and the second just before halftime to Clark.

Edmonds-Woodway dominated second-half play, picking up a goal by Clark just six minutes after the break and then another at the 62^nd minute mark by Shull off a rebound in the box. In between the two scores, the Warriors banged three shots off the crossbar and posts. Michaela Danyo bounced a ball off the top of the crossbar in the 48^th minute, then two minutes later found the right post with a hard shot; Warrior Alison Monroe struck a sizzling 35-yard shot in the 60^th minute that was turned away by the crossbar.

While the Warrior offense was operating in full gear throughout the match, coach Bill LeCompte wanted to focus on his squad’s defensive effort, not just Tuesday night but all season long. “We’ve been fortunate to be balanced all year,” he said. “We’ve been working on some things and trying to figure out how to defend better. The Terrace goal was kind of a weird free kick — great for Mountlake Terrace to put it in, but just kind of a weird flight of the ball that surprised everyone. We’re sitting on eight shutouts on the season so far, so we’re defending well.”

The match was ended by mutual agreement between the two coaches with about 12 minutes to go after Kvinge collided hard with a Warrior opponent, injured her left ankle, and was taken to Swedish Edmonds Hospital in an aid car.

With the victory, the Warriors remained on top of the Wesco 3A standings at 9-0-0 (11-1-1 overall), two games ahead of their closest 3A rival Arlington.

LeCompte recognized the significance of leading the league going into the District 1 tournament that begins later this month. “I think being the number one or two seed is always important,” he said. “If we can be up there it gives you just a little easier road to go with the district tournament the way things go.”

Clark, who serves as one of the captains of the squad, is also thinking ahead to the Warrior postseason with anticipation. “I think that we have a lot of potential,” she said. “We have pretty much an entirely new team, but we have a lot of talent.”

“Actually, our season is going even better than last year,” Clark added. “We’re undefeated in league (play) and that’s something we didn’t have last year. I think we’re off to a really strong start and I think we do have potential to become state champions again.”

For Mountlake Terrace, there will likely be no bid to the district tournament, but Hatch stresses the team still has something to play for in its final two regular season games. “Our chances for the playoffs are slim, but our goal is definitely to finish the season on a high note,” he said.

Hatch noted that with just one senior on the squad, the Hawks will have a very similar look next year. “I think a lot of girls are thinking about this as a season that spans across seasons. So this isn’t necessarily the end of our ‘season.’”

The Hawks (3-7-0 in Wesco 3A, 5-8-0 overall) will close out the 2015 year with away games on Thursday, Oct. 22, and Wednesday, Oct. 28. Edmonds-Woodway still has three matches left in the regular season before they begin postseason play on Oct. 31.

In other MTHS action on Tuesday, the volleyball team was shutout by Meadowdale 3-0, the girls swim team was defeated by Stanwood 139-21, and the boys tennis team played well during Day 1 of the Wesco 3A South Tournament at Glacier Peak High School.

— By Doug Petrowski

Prep Girls Soccer: Edmonds-Woodway at Mountlake Terrace, Oct. 19

Edmonds-Woodway             2          2          —          4
Mountlake Terrace               1          0          —          1

Goal Scorers:
Donnya Kvinge (MTHS), unassisted, in the 12^th minute
Ellie Shull (EWHS), assisted by Chiara Serafini, in the 17^th minute
Gabby Clark (EWHS), assisted by Chiara Serafini, in the 39^th minute
Gabby Clark (EWHS), assisted by Kia Mackey, in the 46^th minute
Ellie Shull (EWHS), assisted by Ashleigh Fonsen, in the 62^nd minute

Records: Mountlake Terrace 3-7-0 in Wesco 3A, 5-8-0 overall; Edmonds-Woodway 9-0-0, 11-1-1

Mountlake Terrace next match: vs. Arlington, Thursday, Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m. at Arlington High School

Edmonds-Woodway next match: vs. Everett, Thursday, Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m. at Edmonds Stadium

Prep Volleyball: Mountlake Terrace at Meadowdale, Oct. 19

Meadowdale 3, Mountlake Terrace 0 (25-20, 25-8, 25-18)

Records: Mountlake Terrace 0-9 in Wesco 3A, 0-11 overall; Meadowdale 5-5, 5-7

Mountlake Terrace next match: vs. Lynnwood, Thursday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m. at Mountlake Terrace High School

Meadowdale next match: vs. Stanwood, Monday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m. at Meadowdale High School

Prep Boys Tennis: Mountlake Terrace at Wesco 3A South Tournament, Oct. 19 (Day 1)

Singles: Jeremy Ansdell (MTHS) defeated Joseph Ho (Meadowdale) 6-4, 6-0; Takara Truong (Lynnwood) defeated Minchoel Jung (MTHS) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

Doubles: Adam Lorraine / Jacob Peters (MTHS) defeated Kevin Reitveld / Tommy Lyons (Ferndale) 6-4, 6-4; Adam Lorraine / Jacob Peters defeated Jack Bong / Andrew Counter (Stanwood) 6-4, 6-3; Adam Lorraine / Jacob Peters defeated Jack Wygant / Cole Walchenback (Glacier Peak) 6-4, 6-3; Drake Day / Max Leidig (MTHS) defeated Alex Mellen / Htet Thu (Lynnwood) 7-6 (2), 6-4; Tucker Davis / Scott Wilson (Glacier Peak) defeated Drake Day /Max Leidig (MTHS) 6-0, 6-0; Kyle Berquist / Hugh Gaevert defeated Drake Day / Max  Leidig (MTHS) 6-1, 6-2

MTHS next match: Day 2 of the Wesco 3A South Tournament, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 1 p.m. at Glacier Peak High School

Prep Girls Swim: Stanwood at Mountlake Terrace, Oct. 19

Stanwood 139, Mountlake Terrace 21

Mountlake Terrace event winner: Victoria Loughe in the 100 meter backstroke in a time of 1:18.85

Mountlake Terrace next meet: at the Edmonds District Meet, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2:45 p.m. at Lynnwood Pool