Glacier Peak beats Bainbridge 2-0 in 3A state tourney to advance

SNOHOMISH — The Glacier Peak Grizzlies finally solved their state tournament nemesis.

Could that serve as a good omen going forward?

The Grizzlies, facing the team that always knocks them out of the state tournament, finally earned a measure of revenge, strolling to a 2-0 victory over the Bainbridge Spartans in the first round of the 3A state boys soccer tournament Wednesday evening at Snohomish High School.

Wyatt Miller and Connor Seed scored the goals as Glacier Peak was in control from start to finish.

“The team played great,” Glacier Peak coach Kyle Veach said. “We played against a good opponent and played our gameplan perfectly, possessing them out of the match from early on. We knew they were going to play long, we knew they were going to be big and athletic. We just possessed and moved the ball around really well, created opportunities, and we finished when we got the good ones. It was a great team win today.”

It was also a win that overturned Glacier Peak’s history of having its season ended by Bainbridge. The last two times Glacier Peak made the state tournament the Grizzlies were eliminated by Bainbridge, losing 2-1 in the semifinals in 2011 and 4-1 in the quarterfinals in 2013. Indeed, Bainbridge is the only team to ever beat Glacier Peak at state as the only other time the Grizzlies reached the final 16, in 2010, they won it all.

“Some boys joked around before, that’s our kryptonite, that’s our nemesis,” Veach said. “We were able to take some past history into account and put the win together today. It felt good to beat them.”

Glacier Peak still has several players who were on the team when the Grizzlies lost to Bainbridge in 2013.

“They knocked us out last time, so we really wanted to beat them,” Seed said. “Everyone who was here last time knew about it and wanted to beat them really bad.

“I think it’s a great sign,” Seed added. “This is a really good team, everyone loves each other.”

But Veach was quick to dispute the notion that overcoming Bainbridge meant fate was on Glacier Peak’s side the rest of the tournament.

“No, no, no, there’s no such thing as a good sign,” Veach said adamantly. “It’s only hard work and teamwork that’s going get us to where we want to go. There’s three more games. It’s not a matter of smooth sailing. It’s state, everybody’s good, and we just have to be better.”

Glacier Peak (16-3-1), the top seed from District 1, advance to face Auburn Riverside in the quarterfinals. The Grizzlies will host that game Saturday at a time to be determined.

Bainbridge, the No. 4 seed from District 2, finished its season 13-4-3.

The first half was largely controlled by Glacier Peak, which used its intricate passing game to possess the ball in midfield. The Grizzlies also had the early scoring chances. Spencer Pettit put a corner kick off the far post, and the whistle blew before Riley Prescott slammed the ball in at the post during the ensuing goal-mouth scramble. Then Seed put a drive from outside the penalty box off the crossbar.

Glacier Peak finally found the breakthrough in the 27th minute. A long ball played into the Bainbridge penalty box seemed little danger. However, when Spartan defender Micah Russell couldn’t control the ball cleanly, it gave Miller the chance to pounce. Miller raced in, took the ball away from Russell, then slotted past Bainbridge goalkeeper Devon Reynolds to give the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead.

The second half was more of the same as the Grizzlies were rarely threatened by the Spartans. The best scoring chance in the first 25 minutes of the second half fell to Glacier Peak as Miller got past the defense on the right and pulled the ball back in front, where Seed’s first attempt was blocked and Alex Bergstrom’s follow was just deflected over.

But the Grizzlies gave themselves the insurance they needed in the 67th minute. Seed picked up a loose ball at the edge of the Spartan penalty box, moved to his right, then unleashed a rocket that screamed past Reynolds and into the net, giving Glacier Peak an unassailable 2-0 lead and locking up a spot in the quarterfinals.

At Snohomish H.S.

Goals—Wyatt Miller (GP), Connor Seed (GP). Assists—none. Goalkeepers—Bainbridge: Devon Reynolds. Glacier Peak: Sahm Noorfeshan. Records—Glacier Peak 16-3-1. Bainbridge 13-4-3.