SHORELINE — The Glacier Peak Grizzlies are headed back to the Class 3A boys soccer state tournament for the second consecutive year.
The regular-season Wesco champions defeated the Shorewood Thunderbirds 3-1 in a Wesco 3A district semifinal match Tuesday at Shoreline Stadium.
“We’re taking those steps forward and this is a major step forward,” Glacier Peak coach Kyle Veach said. “It doesn’t get any bigger than being able to qualify for state. That’s the ultimate goal, to be in the top 16 and earn the right to contend for a state championship. We achieved that today and I’m proud of our boys.”
The Grizzlies (15-3) defeated the Thunderbirds (11-5-2) for the second time this season, including a 2-0 regular-season victory last week. Glacier Peak advances to the district final at 4 p.m. Saturday against second-seeded Edmonds-Woodway at Shoreline Stadium.
“It’s been a goal to win districts and win league, but getting to state is our No. 1 goal on the season,” said Grizzlies defender Wyatt Miller, who scored what proved the game-winning goal. “We feel like we have the pieces to do it — it’s just whether or not we can do it. We went to the quarters last year and we had hoped to win. This year is definitely (a year) of retribution.”
Shorewood will have to win a pair of loser-out games to reach the state tournament for the fifth straight year. The Thunderbirds will play Mountlake Terrace at 7 p.m. Thursday for the right to advance to Saturday’s third-place game.
“There is plenty of talent and there are plenty of guys who can come off the bench and fill roles and step up,” Shorewood coach Bill Wilkins said. “As long as the attitude and effort is there they can be fine. They went through that path last year so they have some experience at that.”
The Grizzlies never trailed in the contest.
In the 33rd minute, co-captain Connor Seed’s corner kick cross found defender Camron Miller, who headed it by Shorewood goalkeeper Isaac Whitaker for the 1-0 Glacier Peak lead.
Converting set pieces like corner kicks have become a program staple under Veach this season.
“That’s something we work on regularly and we’ve got a lot of big bodies to be able to get goals that way,” Veach said.
Glacier Peak co-captain Wyatt Miller doubled Glacier Peak’s lead to 2-0 in the 54th minute when he tapped in a cross from Christopher Day.
But the Thunderbirds immediately answered two minutes later when Nicolas Trajano put the ball past Glacier Peak goalie Sahm Noorfeshan to cut the deficit to 2-1.
It was the first goal the Grizzlies had allowed since April 1.
“That was definitely really deflating to have that happen,” Miller said. “But we really responded well.”
Daniel Guerrero iced the game for the Grizzlies when he converted a penalty kick in the 74th minute.
While Glacier Peak gears up for Edmonds-Woodway, the Thunderbirds will have a quick turnaround for Thursday’s loser-out game.
“Somebody is going to go through four games in eight days,” Wilkins said. “I want to be the team that does that, but it’s very challenging on the bodies.”
At Shoreline Stadium
Goals—Nicolas Trajano (S), Camron Miller (GP), Wyatt Miller (GP), Daniel Guerrero (GP). Records—Shorewood 11-5-2 overall. Glacier Peak 15-3-0.
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