Miles apart

Published 4:56 pm Monday, May 18, 2009

In the grand scheme, the Class 4A District 1 boys soccer title game had little significance, right?

Sure, it afforded the Marysville-Pilchuck Tomahawks a chance to create a little history by winning the first district title in school history. But both Marysville-Pilchuck and Kamiak were still heading to the state playoffs.

So no harm done finishing second instead of first?

Not quite. The cost of losing that game was 300 miles.

By winning that game, Marysville-Pilchuck received the gift of staying home for the first round, while Kamiak was forced to make the long trek to Spokane.

“That’s so huge for us,” said Marysville-Pilchuck coach Geoff Kittle. “We feel comfortable playing at Lake Stevens, we’re undefeated there for two years now, we’ve won a couple playoff games there, we practice there. It just makes us feel comfortable being there — and it’s nice not having to travel for (potentially) two games.”

It’s a big advantage for a program that’s still a newcomer to soccer’s upper echelon. Though the Tomahawks are undefeated at 16-0-2 and district champs, Marysville-Pilchuck is still the younger brother at the state level. When the Tomahawks advanced to state last year it was just the second time in school history and the first time in 23 years. Marysville-Pilchuck still hasn’t won a state playoff game.

So even though the Tomahawks are a top seed, they still feel they have to prove themselves.

“Obviously we want to win the state title, but we’re just taking it one game at a time,” Kittle said. “That’s how we’ve done it all season long. Our school has never won a state playoff game, so for us to win a state playoff game is our first goal. Get that one under our belt, then we’ll take the next one.”

Meanwhile, Snohomish is in the complete opposite position. The perennially-powerful Panthers needed to win the district’s third-place game to extend its streak of state berths to 11. But even though Snohomish (14-4-1) doesn’t enter the tournament with the same hype as teams past, the Panthers’ experience and tradition — which includes two state titles during this 11-year run — should provide a boost.

“I think we have all the tools to go all the way to the final four, and ultimately finish it up,” said Snohomish coach Dan Pingrey. “It’s what you come out and do on the pitch that day, but we’re capable of doing it. When we’re playing well, I’ll match this team up against anyone.”

Kamiak (10-8) finished in the unenviable second position and must travel across the mountains. But despite the long drive and eight losses, the Knights’ improved play as the season progressed showed they belong.

“If we play up to our potential we can give any team a good run,” Kamiak coach Garfield Scott said. “It’s just coming out there and starting off well. I have a lot of confidence in these lads, it’s just getting off to a good start.”

The local schools which have reached state in Classes 3A, 2A and 1A, possess quite a mix of achievements ranging from a first-time state appearance to reaching the quarterfinals in each of the last two seasons.

Coupeville (1A) will be playing its first-ever state playoff game.

Spencer Tack has been a catalyst for the Wolves at both ends of the field, and moving Jeff Wacker into a midfield position has allowed him to blossom into one of Coupeville’s most dangerous threats, along with sweeper Andre Martin.

“He (Tack) gives us a dimension that we have never had before with a defender being able to attack,” Coupeville coach Paul Mendes said. “Jeff is a midfield general. He creates stuff at the other team’s end and has been a real team player. Andre Martin is a captain, and a great leader on the field.”

Shorecrest’s advance to 3A state is not out of the ordinary considering that the Scots have reached state the past seven seasons and the quarterfinals the past two seasons.

Shorecrest, which is just four years removed from having won a state championship, is led by Glenn Paden and Jonathan Cho, two players who have led the Scots to a 17-1 record.

Archbishop Murphy, the 2A District 1 second seed, fell to defending state champion Sehome 2-1 in the 2A District 1 championship game Saturday. Murphy’s strong suit is its defense, starting with goalie Doug Ehlebracht.

“Doug has really stepped up as a junior and been the backbone of our team,” Murphy head coach Eddie Fernandez said. “Goalkeepers don’t always get the accolades that goal scorers get.”

The Wildcats’ best offensive opportunities have been generated by Jason Houts, Erik Schmidt, Alexis Magana and Sean Ryan, who is returning to action after sitting out the Sehome game with an injury. However, 12 different players have scored this season for Murphy.

“We stay together as a team, and keep playing hard until the end,” Fernandez said, “We are real proud to go on and represent the Cascade Conference.”