EVERETT — Last year around this time, Squalicum knocked Archbishop Murphy out of the boys 2A state semifinals en route to winning the state championship.
This time around, the Wildcats did the knocking.
Archbishop Murphy, which rallied late in regulation to tie the score, defeated Squalicum 4-3 in a shootout Saturday afternoon. The victory puts the Wildcats in a Tuesday winner-to-state semifinal in the 2A District 1 playoffs.
“This was a stepping stone to where we want to be. We want to rise to the top. We want to be where Squalicum was last year,” Archbishop Murphy coach Eddie Fernandez said.
It didn’t look Archbishop Murphy would get a chance to step beyond Saturday’s game when Squalicum’s George Karadinas scored with six minutes and 45 seconds remaining, giving the Storm a 3-2 lead.
But the Wildcats didn’t panic and Erik Schmidt got the equalizer at the 2:15 mark, blasting in a shot from 30 yards out. Squalicum goalkeeper Morgan Waidelich dove to his right and got both hands on the ball, but couldn’t stop it from getting past him and tying the score 3-3.
“He’s scored goals all year from long range,” Fernandez said of Schmidt.
The Wildcats had moved their defenders up to mount more of an attack in the game’s waning minutes.
“It doesn’t matter if you lose by one or two, you got to push forward to get that tying goal,” Fernandez said.
Archbishop Murphy had a few chances in the two five minute overtime sessions to end the game, but Squalicum held off the Wildcats (12-4 overall) to ensure that the game would be decided by penalty kicks.
Murphy went first and both teams connected on their first two penalty shots. Murphy’s third shot sailed over the goal. Following that, both teams made their next two shots, setting up Karadinas with a chance to win the game for the Storm. His shot was saved by Murphy goalkeeper Doug Ehlebracht, who dove to his left to stop the shot.
“Doug has played the game enough and he has his own technique,” Fernandez said. “He is very keen on knowing which way the shooter is going to go.”
Archbishop Murphy made its next two penalty shots and the Storm missed their seventh penalty attempt wide of the left post to seal the Murphy victory.
Karadinas scored the game’s first goal for Squalicum (9-8). The Storm’s second score was an own goal committed by Archbishop Murphy. Alexis Magana scored Murphy’s first goal on Sean Ryan assist. Alex Kramer scored the Wildcats’ second goal off a corner kick with an assist by Jamie Steinman assist.
The Wildcats have Mother’s Day to celebrate their win, but it is back to work on Monday to try and earn a spot in the 2A state tournament.
“They get to spend Mother’s Day with their moms, come Monday they are mine again,” Fernandez joked after the game.
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