After seeing lead disappear, Auburn Riverside’s Shell delivers game-winner against Central Kitsap
Auburn Riverside was riding high with a 2-0 lead against visiting Central Kitsap in the opening round of the West Central III/Southwest bidistrict 3A tournament on Saturday afternoon.
Junior Samiah Shell scored the game’s opening goal in just the second minute, beating her defender down the left side and beating the keeper far post for a routine goal. Then early in the second half in the 53rd minute, Kiana Gutierrez beat her defender, saw the keeper come off her line and chipped the ball perfectly over the keeper’s head to push the Ravens’ lead to two.
It felt like Auburn Riverside was in total control. But in the playoffs, against good teams, no lead is safe.
Central Kitsap, the runner-up from the 3A South Sound Conference, came roaring back. In the 6th minute, Ailin Zhang found the ball at her feet on a rebound from a free kick, settled the ball and launched a shot across the face of goal to cut the lead to one. Then in second-half stoppage time, Kaylie Mehlenbeck found the ball at her feet on a rebound off a corner kick and scored, tying the game.
At that point, overtime seemed a near certainty. Unless your name is Samiah Shell. The junior, who was a Tacoma News Tribune All-Area first-team selection as a sophomore, drifted into some space in the box created by a backtracking Central Kitsap defender and found the ball at her feet with nothing but space around her. She turned, calmly, and put the ball past the keeper with ease.
Shouts of ‘offside!’ echoed from Central Kitsap’s players, but the goal stood. Shell sealed the 3-2 win for Auburn Riverside and officially punched the team’s ticket to the 3A state tournament with the win.
“Through my mind, they got two goals back, which was a great comeback for them,” Shell said. “But at the same time, it was like, how do we react? How do we respond? I was honestly putting that pressure on myself, but it’s a team sport. I have to make sure everyone else is OK because we’ve had a history of as soon as they score, our heads get down, our mentality gets down.
“So I was going to make sure we were all still on the same page, all still motivated, because we all want the same thing. So I feel like that attacking mentality just helped push us and motivate us to get that last goal and prove that we were the better team.”
Shell, always the picture of relentless energy and optimism, wasn’t sure if she was offside or not for the final goal.
“I didn’t know if the ref blew it or not so I was like, do I stop? Do I go? And I kind of just like, let me just turn and kick it in the goal. It’s right here, so even if I’m offsides, I can prove I can score the goal. It was an amazing moment from our other forwards that helped create that moment.”
Lewis has seen this story before from his forward tandem. All the time.
“Samiah was there, was very composed in the moment,” Lewis said. “Her and Kiana are always within themselves and don’t get fazed by the moment.”
The workrate, pace and skill level from Auburn Riverside’s forward duo make the Ravens a challenge to slow down, especially since they’re always looking for each other. If anything, the Ravens play too unselfishly at times.
“We both know each other’s qualities,” Gutierrez said. “We have different qualities, different strengths. Those strengths and qualities work really well together. Every time I have the ball, I know Sam’s right across the field and I can always play her. ... I think we have the same mind sometimes. We know what we want, know we want to work for each other. That’s what plays into this duo.”
Shell said they’re always on the same page.
“Honestly, we’re just like partners in crime. When I’m tired, I know I can find Kiana, boot it and she’s already making the run.”
Like on Gutierrez’s chip goal.
“To be honest, I just cleared that ball and then she was already there,” Shell said. “I was like, perfect. Her communication is so key. I’m a visual player, so hearing her voice just screaming for me reminds me that every time, she’s there for me. It makes me feel safe on the field, knowing I have a player that’s willing to work as much as I am.”
Auburn Riverside will continue the district tournament to play for state seeding, but Saturday’s win guarantees the Ravens a spot in the state tournament. In 2019, Auburn Riverside took second place in the 4A state tournament, losing to Puyallup. Now, they’re hoping to go all the way in 3A.
“I think we’re all up for the challenge,” Gutierrez said. “Me personally, I’m ready to get back, ready to win. My senior year, I think just putting it all out there, leaving it at Riverside, the last game, last state. I’m just really excited to see how far we can go. I’m excited to see us in the state final.”
Shell said she’s playing the game because she loves it and she loves her teammates. There’s another motivation that burns deep, too.
“I’m playing because I want to win,” she said.
This story was originally published October 30, 2021 at 4:52 PM.
