SNOHOMISH — A youthful Glacier Peak High School boys soccer team had a good run. But Saturday night a seasoned Bainbridge team told the Grizzlies they’re not quite ready for the big time just yet.
The defending state-champion and senior-laden Spartans handled the plucky Grizzlies as Bainbridge knocked off Glacier Peak 4-1 in the 3A state quarterfinals at Snohomish High School.
Glacier Peak, which played stretches of Saturday’s game with just two seniors on the field, made a nice postseason run. The Grizzlies unexpectedly won the District 1 championship, then followed up with a first-round state victory over a talented Chief Sealth team.
But as much as the Grizzlies huffed and puffed Saturday, they had no answer for the Spartans. Bainbridge led 2-0 less than nine minutes into the contest, and though the Grizzlies got back within one and made a game of it, the Spartans’ finished it off in style.
“It was a tough game today,” Glacier Peak coach Shannon Murray said. “The first 15-20 minutes they ran us pretty good. At that point I think we kind of got our legs under us, we got a goal back, and I thought the second half we played pretty darn well. We had a couple breakaways and if one of those go in early and it’s 2-2, it might be a different game. But at the end of the day it’s a game of chances, and when Bainbridge got theirs tonight they were good.”
Will Economy scored three goals and Michael Crowley also found the net for Bainbridge (12-4), which advanced to face Shorecrest in Friday’s semifinals at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup.
Freshman Connor Seed scored for Glacier Peak, which completed its season 13-6-2.
“We’re a young group, and we were coming up against a senior-heavy group that’s been there and done that,” Murray said. “We battled, I’m proud of my group. It was a good season, getting to a quarterfinal for the third time in four years is a good accomplishment. Hopefully that cements us as a program to be reckoned with all the time.”
Bainbridge was all over Glacier Peak in the opening minutes, and the Spartans parlayed that early pressure into a 2-0 lead.
The first goal came just three minutes into the game. Crowley had a free header at the far post on a corner kick, and he buried it to stake the Spartans to a 1-0 lead.
Five minutes later it was 2-0. Economy played a neat give-and-go up the middle with Tanner Salmon to get free on goal, and he slotted the ball into the right corner to make it a two-goal game.
Bainbridge continued to control play, but the Grizzlies received a lifeline in the waning moments of the first half. Branson Corwin was judged to have been pulled down just inside the penalty box, resulting in a penalty kick. Seed tucked away the PK to get Glacier Peak back within one.
However, the Spartans regained control in the second half and received a penalty kick of their own in the 57th minute. Glacier Peak goalkeeper Jesus Mendoza saved Crowley’s attempt, but Economy put in the rebound to restore Bainbridge’s two-goal lead. Economy then polished off his hat trick with less than two minutes remaining to complete the scoring.
At Veterans Memorial Stadium
Goals—Michael Crowley (B), Will Economy (B) 3, Connor Seed (GP). Assists—Ben Freedman (B), Tanner Salmon (B), Crowley (B). Goalkeepers—Bainbridge: Carsten Frederickson. Glacier Peak: Lucas MacMillan, Jesus Mendoza. Records—Bainbridge 12-4 overall. Glacier Peak 13-6-2.
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