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BOYS SOCCER: Title eludes Snohomish

Al-Jelaihawi's goal in final two minutes lifts Shorewood over Panthers

By Mike Cane
Herald Writer

SHORELINE -- Once again, Mr. Clutch came through for the Shorewood High School boys soccer team.

Safaa Al-Jelaihawi scored his third game-winning goal of the season Thursday and lifted Shorewood to a 2-1 victory against the Snohomish Panthers in the Class 4A District 1 championship game at Shoreline Stadium.

Al-Jelaihawi kicked a low, close-range shot inside the left post in the final two minutes of the game. The goal was set up on a shot from the right side by Sam Olson, who in the first half scored Shorewood's other goal.

"I just dove for it. I didn't think I was going to get to it because I saw (a Snohomish) defender right on me," said Al-Jelaihawi, a junior forward whose other game-winners this season came against Shorecrest and Meadowdale.

About seven minutes before he scored the deciding goal, Al-Jelaihawi misfired on a run up the left side. He appeared to rush his shot and the ball sailed left of the net.

When Al-Jelaihawi got a chance for redemption, he made the most of it.

"It's clutch time," he said.

His goal gave Shorewood the district's top seed for next week's 4A state tournament. The Thunderbirds (15-1-1), who have won nine consecutive games, play host to the District 3 No. 5 seed Tuesday at Shoreline Stadium.

Aaron Burns scored the only goal for Snohomish (13-3-1), which is the District 1 No. 2 seed. The Panthers will travel to take on the District 3 No. 2 seed Tuesday.

Snohomish had won the past four district titles, including 2004 when it beat Shorewood 2-0 for the championship. On Thursday the Panthers rallied from a 1-0 first-half deficit and put pressure on Shorewood throughout the final 40 minutes. But the loss came down to a defensive mistake by the goalkeeper on the play where Al-Jelahawi scored, Snohomish coach Dan Pingrey said.

"In the second half 99 percent of it was good. We were (in the offensive zone generating) some chances," Pingrey said.

Scott Lane was Snohomish's keeper the whole game. He filled in for usual starter John MacArthur, who Pingrey said was ruled ineligible Thursday because of violating school rules. MacArthur will be available for the state playoffs, said Pingrey.

After both teams generated some excellent attacks in the first half, Shorewood broke through with about 10 minutes to go. The Thunderbirds' first goal came on a header by Olson from about 5 yards out. He knocked in Stuart Schaefer's low throw-in from the right side.

Snohomish got a great individual effort from Burns to tie the score 1-1 early in the second half. Burns zoomed down the middle of the field, blew past defenders and eluded the goalkeeper with a quick one-on-one move in the fourth minute of the half.

Dorian Lair, Shorewood's keeper, ran to the top of the penalty box to challenge Burns. But just before Lair would have grabbed the ball, Burns tapped it left and dribbled in for a close-range goal.

The goal came after Pingrey added a third forward to his original two-forward alignment to create more offense.

"It was great composure," Pingrey said of Burns' goal. "He had several opportunities like that tonight."

Asked what the difference in the game was, Shorewood coach Mark Wisdom said it came down to teamwork and resilience.

"They pass really well together and when things aren't going their way they regroup and make it happen."

Specifically, Al-Jelaihawi made it happen … again. Half of his six goals this season have been game-winners.

"He's just in the right place," Wisdom said.

At Shoreline Stadium

Goals--Shorewood: Olson, Al-Jelaihawi. Snohomish: Burns. Assists-Shorewood: Schaefer, Olson. Goalkeepers--Shorewood: Lair. Snohomish: Lane. Records--Shorewood 15-1-1. Snohomish 13-3-1.

Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.