DUVALL — An depleted Lakewood team fought off one of the state’s best 2A offenses for 60 minutes Nov. 3 at Cedarcrest High School.

Eventually, however, Sehome scored on a counterattack in the 64th minute to win 1-0 and earn a state berth.

“I thought our girls did a good job of neutralizing them,” said Lakewood coach Jeremiah Wohlgemuth. “They everything a coach could ask for. It’s been an emotional couple of days and they’ve had to go through a lot.”

Wohlgemuth was charged with preparing his team to play a fast-paced Sehome offense that had scored 56 goals in 16 games this season — with just 11 players. Seven Cougars were suspended for the remainder of the season due to an off the field incident, leaving just enough to field a whole team for 80 minutes.

“I want to commend the girls on the field who have done everything right both on and off the field,” Wohlgemuth said.

The Cougars played a containment strategy most of the game, sitting back and hoping for a low-scoring affair that would end in penalty kicks, or an efficient goal.

“We figured we’d have limited chances, so we were going to make the most out of them and pick our spots,” he said.

This strategy worked early, in large part, because of goal keeper Miranda Head, who had eight saves.

Madison Heilmann scored in the 60th minute off a pass from Jessica Bertucci, forcing the Cougars offense to become more aggressive.

Lakewood had a chance in stoppage time with a corner kick that scooted across the goal mouth, and just out of reach of all 10 of Wohlgemuth’s girls who were packed into the goal.

Nevertheless, the Cougars have another chance to earn a state berth on Nov. 7 with a win over either Squalicum or Burlington-Edison at 11 a.m.

“That’s the beauty about winning that first game,” Wohlgemuth said. “We’re not out.”