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Spokane Shadow forward Zane Higgins scored twice, once early in the match and once late in the match, to lead the Spokane Shadow to a 2-0 win in a rematch of last year's PDL seminfinals. Spokane has now taken 2 of 3 from the 'Bird this season, with a fourth match scheduled for July 8 in Spokane. Both the Firebirds and Shadow have had less success this year on the field, finding themselves in 5th and 4th place in the Northwest Division of the PDL. |
| Fred Kummernes with the corner |
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From the opening whistle, the Shadow were on the attack, and their pressing payed off in the 20th minute when Higgins scored his first goal on a head which beat Firebirds goalkeeper Colin McMillen. About 10 minutes later, the Firebirds had a good chance when forward Jason Crevar got in behind the Spokane defense, but his point blank shot was stopped by a fine save from Spokane goalkeeper Ryan Wittstruck, and the rebound was cleared by the Spokane defense. |
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For most of the second half, the teams were playing very even, with neither team able to seriously threaten. In the 65th minute, it appeared that the Firebirds had drawn even when Jason Crevar headed in a corner kick, but the referee ruled that a Firebird player had interfered with the Spokane goalkeeper, and the game remained 1-0 Spokane.
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| Jason Crevar goes for the header while Dimitrio Sanchez and Jack Wheeler chase. Aaron Grubb is defending. |
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With 15 minutes left to go, Firebirds coach Tony Vandermeer brought in forward JP Capodanno to help the offense attempt to even the match, and the strategy seemed to be working as for the next 10 minutes the Firebirds attack had Spokane back on their heels. But the Spokane defense effectively collapsed into the box when the forwards made their push forward, and forced the Firebirds to start shooting from outside the box, which proved ineffective. In the 88th minute, the Firebirds finally paid the price for pushing forward, when Zane Higgins got behind the defense and moved in one-on-one against Colin McMillen, and he put a well-placed shot just inside the right post to give Spokane a 2-0 win. |
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| Ben Roth moving the ball upfield while Jason Crevar makes a run. Brett Houck and Ryan Tracey defending. |
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A match report from spokane.net is available here. Return to the home of the Willamette Valley Firebirds |
| Jason Crevar heads on goal. |