EVERETT — The Archbishop Murphy and Cedarcrest boys soccer teams entered Friday’s Cascade Conference game with perfect league records, but it was the defending state champion Wildcats who proved they are still the class of the league with a dominating 5-1 victory over the Red Wolves.
“We knew this would be a big game, so the guys were really excited,” Archbishop Murphy coach Mike Bartley said. “This was for first (place) and these were the two undefeated teams, so we’ve been trying to raise our level. … We got in the passing lanes and we closed them down. We got on them and then we counter attacked really fast.”
The Wildcats wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Sophomore Isaac Feeney’s goal off a through-ball from sophomore Sam Johnson gave the Wildcats the lead less than three minutes into the game.
That was just the beginning of a disastrous first half for Cedarcrest.
Junior Chase Whittaker scored the game’s second goal on an assist from Johnson in the 17th minute, and Johnson added a goal of his own in the 26th minute off a deflection. Johnson assisted or scored on all of the Wildcats’ three first-half goals.
“It’s kind of funny because starting out he was our left back and then he was our holding mid(fielder) and then I moved him into attacking center mid,” Bartley said. “Sam plays basketball and he really understands how to read. He’s like a point guard, he reads the field. We found a spot for him that’s going to fit.
“He had a great game tonight.”
While the Wildcats cashed in on most of their first-half opportunities, the Red Wolves struggled to find a scoring opportunity.
Cedarcrest improved after halftime and possessed the ball more in the second half, but the Wildcats’ lead continued to grow.
Junior Matt Williams converted a penalty kick in the 59th minute and junior Jacob Snider scored off a deflection in the 68th minute to give the Wildcats a 5-0 lead.
Cedarcrest junior Nikolas Reierson finally got the Red Wolves on the board in the 71st minute, but it was too little, too late.
The result serves as a reminder to the rest of the 2A teams in the state that Archbishop Murphy may well be capable of defending its state title.
“We always talk about potential,” Bartley said. “If we play to our potential, we’re capable of that, but we have to play to our potential.
“I knew that (Cedarcrest) tied Shorecrest, we’re looking at Shorecrest always because they’re a 2A team in a 3A league. What we’re worried about right now is just focusing on ourselves and trying to make ourselves better. We know that three or four of the best teams in the state are in our district, so districts is something we really have to do a good job on.
“Tonight was a measure to see what we need to work on and things we need to improve, but we played really well and finished really well, so I’m really happy with the result.”
Aaron Lommers covers prep sports for The Herald. Follow him on Twitter at @aaronlommers and contact him at alommers@heraldnet.com.
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