Jackson beats Monroe 1-0 to keep its state hopes alive

Published 11:08 pm Thursday, May 14, 2009

EVERETT — The Jackson High School boys soccer team is getting another shot.

Tripped up at the final hurdle a year ago in their quest for the Class 4A state tournament, the Timberwolves get another crack at it following their 1-0 victory over the Monroe Bearcats on Thursday night in the District 1 tournament.

Devin Mendiola scored the game’s lone goal midway through the second half and goalkeeper Eric Hodel made sure it stood up as Jackson (13-3-2), the second seed from the Wesco South, advanced to face Snohomish in Saturday’s third-place game. The winner of that game heads to state, the loser packs its bags for the end of the season.

Jackson found itself in the same position last spring, losing a heartbreaker to Marysville-Pilchuck in the do-or-die third-place contest. This year the T-wolves hope for a different fate.

“We’re going to come pumped up,” Hodel said. “We all want to play in state, we want to keep our season going. We know we’re going to come out and take it to whoever we play.

“We may have played a little slow (Thursday), but everybody played together, played as a team,” Hodel added. “It was a great team win, it wasn’t just an individual person, it was everyone stepping up.”

Monroe, the Wesco North No. 3 seed, finished its season 12-6.

“It’s disappointing because we had a lot of chances, but it’s great to be 12-6,” Monroe coach Ryan Schaeffer said. “It’s sad for the 12 seniors I have. I had a lot of fun with these kids and I’m going to miss them a bunch, but they’re going to go on and do good things.

“Jackson’s a classy team and I hope they go on and take that third spot and go to state.”

Thursday’s game seemed destined for overtime and a shootout as quality scoring chances were at a premium. Monroe pumped plenty of shots toward goal, but almost all of them came from well outside the penalty box and posed little danger. Meanwhile, Jackson’s skilled forwards, Mendiola and Tye Hastings, saw little daylight.

It felt like a mistake was required for a goal to occur, and that’s what happened in the 58th minute. There appeared little danger when the ball was played forward toward the Monroe penalty box, with three Bearcat defenders on hand and only Mendiola there for Jackson. However, a misunderstanding between Monroe defenders allowed Mendiola to nip in, and he slid a shot back across goalkeeper Miles Garman and into the far corner, giving Jackson the lead.

“I thought we were going to overtime, but when you have players like Devin Mendiola, Tye Hastings and Alex Taylor anything can happen in two or three seconds,” Jackson coach Brett Norton said. “The last two years we’ve just waited for mistakes, were patient, and once the defense made a mistake we pounced on it.”

Mendiola’s goal was the signal for Monroe to step up the pressure, making it a nervous final 20 minutes for the T-wolves. But a stunning save from Hodel made sure Jackson finished on the winning end.

With six minutes remaining Monroe crossed the ball into the box. Andrew Barrett’s volleyed shot appeared headed for the corner of the net. However, Hodel dived and just got a fingertip to the ball, directing it around the post to preserve Jackson’s lead.

“I just spun it around the post,” Hodel said. “It was a good volley and he got me. I just got down and dove as far as I could, got a hand on it.”

Monroe made one last effort as Shane McDivitt’s drive from 30 yards out whizzed wide in the final seconds, and the T-wolves celebrated the final whistle.

Quality scoring chances were few and far between during the first half. Monroe created the more dangerous moments. Drew Hopkins had two chances, shooting the ball over when played into space on the left, then rolling a shot just wide from 18 yards out. At the other end the best chance fell to Mendiola, who fanned on his shot in front when set up by Hastings on the break.

Jackson gave warning early in the second half when Hastings broke away from the defense before being denied by a good save from Garman. Not long after Mendiola scored to keep the T-wolves’ state aspirations alive.