E-W wins physical showdown
Published 11:30 pm Friday, April 23, 2010
EVERETT — Everything about Landon Machado is big: His physique, his uniform number (21) and, most important for the Edmonds-Woodway Warriors, his impact on the soccer field.
Machado, an aggressive, burly defender, was an effective enforcer in the defensive zone throughout the Edmonds-Woodway High School boys team’s game against the Mariner Marauders on Friday. But Machado, a senior captain who based purely on physical appearance (5-foot-11, 215 pounds) looks more like a wrestler than a soccer player, also made the most important offensive play.
Thanks to Machado’s right-place, right-time goal in the 55th minute, Edmonds-Woodway escaped Goddard Stadium with a 1-0 Western Conference South Division victory. In a battle between two Class 4A teams trying to improve their chances of earning a District 1 tournament berth, Machado scored the lone goal midway through the second half.
After E-W’s Fareed Zerafat sent a corner kick into the penalty area, the ball got away from Mariner defender Adama Drammeh and squirted to Machado, who scored from point-blank range.
E-W goalkeeper Erik Whitney earned his third shutout of the season, improving the Warriors’ record to 3-2 in the South (nine points), 7-4-1 overall.
Keepers Martin Banuelos and David Kelly each played a half for Mariner (2-3, 6-6).
E-W coach Tony Gilman praised Machado’s all-around impact.
“He organizes us,” Gilman said. “He’s a captain for a reason. He keeps his composure.”
In an extremely physical, rain-soaked game that included lots of fouls and four yellow cards, Machado’s squad emerged with a key triumph.
“Every game, we’re fighting for first place. Both of us came into this needing to win,” said Machado, who scored his fourth goal of the season, “and we just fought a little harder. They’re a great team.”
A month ago E-W beat Mariner by the same score, 1-0, in Edmonds, but that game didn’t count in the South standings. “This is the one that matters,” Gilman said.
Neither team scored in the first half but those 40 minutes were far from boring. E-W (five shots) generated one more shot than Mariner (four), but Mariner had the most dangerous scoring chance.
With 11:15 remaining in the half, Yahir Sandoval broke free on the right side and drilled a shot toward the left post. The ball zipped beyond the reach of E-W keeper Whitney but rolled slightly wide left of the post.
On the other end, E-W fed some nice passes down the middle but wasn’t able to finish any of its strong attacks. The Warriors kept Mariner goalkeeper Banuelos on his toes, though. He made two saves in the half.
Beyond the handful of scoring chances in the opening half, there were plenty of all-out, bruising sequences near midfield. As opposing players fought for positioning and control of the ball, they frequently grabbed, bumped and pushed, resulting in fouls and two yellow cards (one per team).
“They’re definitely a very physical team,” Machado said of Mariner. “They go in hard and they go in believing they’re going to get the ball.”
Machado helped shut down Mariner on one end of the turf, then capitalized on his rare scoring chance at the opposite end.
“I don’t get very many opportunities up front,” he said, “so any time I go up, I go all out, as hard as I can.
Pushing hard to tie the game, Mariner had a promising scoring chance later in the second half. With about 17:15 remaining, Sandoval passed the ball to Cristhian Robles. Robles spun and got a good look at the net but shot high and right, dashing the hopes of gasping Mariner fans.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.
