After a controversial call at the end of their April 21 match led to a 2-2 draw, the intensity was expected to be high Thursday night in the rematch between the Meadowdale and Mountlake Terrace boys soccer teams.
“Was that intense enough for you?,” asked Mavericks Coach Brian Monroe-Jones following the match.
Meadowdale prevailed over the Hawks 2-0 at Edmonds Stadium in the tournament matchup that featured six yellow cards and plenty of shots on goal by both teams.
With the win, the Mavericks will play Shorewood on Saturday, May 16, 4 p.m. at Edmonds Stadium, for third place in the District 1 3A boys soccer tournament and a berth in the state tournament later this month.
Following the loss, the Hawks packed up their gear as their 2015 season is over.
With so much on the line Thursday night, both teams opened with plenty of fire but little to show for their efforts for nearly the entire first half. “I think the players were nervous about losing because it was a loser-out game,” Monroe-Jones said. “So you had a whole bunch of tight players going. Then once things settled down you could see the intensity come back up.”
After numerous attempts on goal, the Mavericks finally got the goal they wanted just five minutes before halftime; Junior Julio Abad beat two Mountlake Terrace defenders on a drive down the right side, drew Hawks goalkeeper Genaro Ruis out of his goal, then crossed to teammate Aiden O’Neill who quickly kicked the ball into the open net.
Monroe-Jones was glad to see O’Neill, who had come in off the bench for the Mavericks, get rewarded for his effort. “He outworks players out there,” Monroe-Jones said of the senior. “He’s an opportunist and he’s going to work hard. He’s going to try to finish everything. But he’s that kid that’s going to give you 100 percent.”
With the score 1-0, the second half featured both goalkeepers making strong saves for their teams. In the 50th minute Maverick goalkeeper Luke Lindgren was called upon to make a quick save off a Colin Cockbain shot from just five yards out. Then in the 62nd minute, Lindgren made a diving save on the short side off a shot by Mountlake Terrace’s Alec Somers.
Ruis was busy in the Hawks’ goal also throughout the second half. In the 56th minute Ruis made back-to-back saves of close range shots from Mavericks Colton Davis and Brian Primm; just a minute later Ruis stopped a header on frame by Meadowdale’s Chad Triplett.
Meadowdale’s second goal came during extra time at the end of the second half; while the Hawks had everyone forward to press for a tying goal, Davis stole a pass, got by Ruis who was 30 yards beyond his 18-yard box, then dribbled in for the easy unassisted goal to seal the victory.
“We scored a hard-earned goal in the first half and then we scored an opportunity goal in the second half,” Monroe-Jones said.
After two hard-fought matches against Mountlake Terrace this season, Monroe-Jones was impressed with the Wesco 3A South rival. “Terrace is a wonderful team,” he said. “Let’s give them credit, they worked their tails off all the way through. They do a lot of really good things. I’m very pleased that we got to beat them. They’re well-coached and good players.”
As for Saturday’s all-important winner-to-state match against Shorewood, a team the Mavericks defeated 1-0 on April 17, Monroe-Jones was concise on his assessment: “We’ve got to win,” he replied.
– By Doug Petrowski
Updated at 9 a.m., May 15 with corrected information.
Prep Boys Soccer: Mountlake Terrace at Meadowdale
Terrace 0 – 0 — 0
Meadowdale 1 – 1 — 2
Goal scorers: Aidan O’Neill (Meadowdale), assisted by Julio Abad, in the 35th minute; Colton Davis (Meadowdale), unassisted, in the 80th minute
Records: Meadowdale 12-3-4 overall; Mountlake Terrace 6-11-2
Meadowdale next match: vs. Shorewood, Saturday, May 16, 4 p.m., Edmonds Stadium (District 1 3A Boys Soccer Tournament third place game; winner to state tournament, season completed for loser)
Mountlake Terrace next match: 2015 season completed
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