LANGLEY — Josh Bartley scored four goals for the Wildcats as Archbishop Murphy capped off a perfect regular season with a 5-1 Cascade Conference win over South Whidbey. The Falcons’ one goal represents only the second time Archbishop Murphy has given up a goal all season.
Murphy started the attack quickly, with Bartley picking up the ball in front of South Whidbey’s back four and breaking through the middle. He hit the ball with the back side of his foot, rising it over the shoulder of the keeper and into the goal in the eighth minute.
“It was a nice strike. It set the tone for the game,” said Wildcats head coach Mike Bartley.
Josh Bartley scored again four minutes later, and that would be enough for the win.
“I just want to praise my team,” said coach Bartley. “We’re looking forward to the playoffs, it’s an exciting time for us.”
As it stands, Archbishop Murphy will be the No. 1 seed in the 2A District 1 tournament, followed by Cedarcrest and South Whidbey. Lakewood gets the fourth seed and will have to play its way into the tourney. The Wildcats play a home game next Saturday at 7 p.m. at Everett Memorial Stadium against the fourth seed in the Northwest League.
This will be Archbishop Murphy’s first home game at Everett Memorial Stadium, and according to coach Bartley they will be training there Thursday night to get used to the lights and the turf.
At South Whidbey H.S.
Goals—Josh Bartley (AM) 4, Riley Rayner (AM) 1, Stephen Lyons (SW) 1. Assists—Rayner 1, James Bettag (AM) 1, Nick Ulowetz (AM) 1, Christian Thode (AM) 1. Goalkeepers—Archbishop Murphy: Jordan Trinka, Luis Valdes III. South Whidbey: Andrew Holt. Records—Archbishop Murphy 14-0 league, 15-0 overall. South Whidbey 8-6, 9-6.
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