Devils suffer first league loss at Highline, 2-0

TUKWILA, Wash. — Lower Columbia College women's soccer suffered its first league setback of the season on Wednesday, falling 2-0 to the Highline Thunderbirds at the Starfire Sports Complex.

The defeat marks the Red Devils' first conference loss of the fall, dropping their NWAC West Region mark to 8-1-4 (10-2-4 overall). With the victory, Highline improved to 8-1-5 in conference action and 9-2-5 overall, tightening the standings near the top of the West Region table alongside frontrunner Tacoma. Lower Columbia had entered the week ranked No. 6 in the latest NWAC Coaches' Poll, while Highline held the No. 9 spot.

Highline struck first in the 40th minute when defender Raighen Wendler broke the scoreless tie to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage just before the break. LCC defender Delanie Zueger was issued a yellow card during the same minute.

The Thunderbirds carried that momentum into the second half and doubled their cushion in the 65th minute. After a Highline attacker was tripped inside the penalty area to draw a foul, midfielder Mersedes Baltazar stepped up to the spot and converted the penalty kick to make it 2-0.

Lower Columbia battled to generate offensive momentum but was kept quiet by a stingy Highline backline. The Red Devils were limited to two total shots on the afternoon — coming from midfielders Sam Roundtree and Annabelle Rogers — and could not test Thunderbird goalkeeper Selma Lawson, who secured the shutout. Highline registered eight total shots on the day, while LCC held a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks.

Leeann Williams started in net for the Red Devils, working the first 80 minutes and recording three saves on five shots faced. Haley Loll came on in relief for the final 10 minutes, stopping the lone shot she encountered.

Highline picked up two second-half cautions, with yellow cards shown to Mia Mendoza Ruiz in the 74th minute and Alondra Corrales in the 76th minute.