Murphy’s second-half comeback falls short

Published 10:17 pm Friday, May 20, 2011

EVERETT — Despite a daunting three-goal halftime deficit, the Archbishop Murphy boys soccer team made a determined second-half rally on Friday night, but the comeback came up one goal short in a 3-2 loss to Hockinson in a Class 2A state quarterfinal playoff game at Mariner High School.

The Wildcats gave up three unanswered goals in the space of 18 minutes in the first half, and for a time it looked like their season might end on a bleak note.

But Archbishop Murphy played a spirited, aggressive style in the second half and cashed in two goals, the second with just over 17 minutes to play.

The Wildcats continued pressing their attack in the remaining minutes, but could never get the goal they needed to send the game to overtime.

“I’m proud of the way we finished,” said Archbishop Murphy coach Eddie Fernandez. “We easily could’ve looked at that 3-0 deficit at halftime and mailed it in. But we fought right up to the very end.

“We felt we had the ability to score three goals (in the second half). And it was one of those (games) where you think you might get that third one. But Hockinson kept us (from scoring the game-tying goal).”

The loss ended Archbishop Murphy’s season with a 17-3 record. But despite the disappointing outcome, “we went down fighting,” Fernandez said. “And if you’re going to finish your season, that’s the way you want to do it.”

In the first half, the Wildcats were often close to scoring. But they were turned back each time by Hockinson, champions of the Greater Saint Helens League from Brush Prairie, and the Hawks then turned the tables by scoring three goals in rapid succession.

The first came midway through the period. Aided by a brisk wind, the Hawks sent a long kick deep into the Archbishop Murphy end and the ball carried over a Wildcats defender to Hockinson forward Cotter Hamilton. His try banged off the right goal post, then off an Archbishop Murphy defender and into the net for an own goal.

Four minutes later Hockinson midfielder Langdon Roscoe came free on the right side and slipped a pass in front to Hamilton. His first shot came off Archbishop Murphy goalkeeper Jordan Trinka and Hamilton was there to blast the loose ball into the left side of the net.

About two minutes before halftime the Hawks added a third goal, set up off a free kick from about 25 yards out. Trinka got a piece of the shot, but it came off to Hockinson midfielder Conner Thompson, who rammed in the rebound.

“It’s all a matter of finishing your chances,” Fernandez said. “That’s the name of the game, especially at this level. They probably had three chances (in the first half) and they put all three away. We had numerous chances and we didn’t put any way. And in the end, that was the difference.”

The Wildcats finally got on the board midway through the second half. Forward Alexis Magana won a footrace to a ball deep in the Hockinson end, and then beat goalkeeper Shamele Battan into the left side of the net.

Five minutes later, Magana set up Archbishop Murphy’s second goal. He eluded a defender and made a beautiful run down the left wing, then delivered a centering pass to teammate Christian Thode in front for the goal.

The Wildcats had one last scoring chance in the final seconds, but a free kick from in front by Magana ended up in a tangle of players in front of the net and was finally kicked away as the match-ending whistle sounded.

Despite the abrupt ending to the season, “there’s nothing but pride from this year,” Fernandez said. “We won the conference for the third year in a row. We won our first district title, and that’s a great accomplishment. So we definitely had a good season and played a lot of good soccer.

“It’s just a shame we didn’t get a chance to take it a little farther. We set our standards high and we don’t apologize for that. But the quarterfinals at state is nothing to sneeze at. So I’m proud of our guys and proud of our season.”