MOUNT VERNON — Sometimes, being patient pays off in a big way.
The top two Cascade Conference boys soccer teams battled in a hard-fought yet scoreless game for 76 minutes before Lakewood broke the tie and won the 2A District 1 Championship game 1-0 against undefeated Cedarcrest on Saturday at Mount Vernon High School.
It was Lakewood’s fifth district title in six years. The Cougars finished in third place last year.
“Lakewood played really well,” said Cedarcrest coach Zack Pittis. “They’re well coached and their guys had a good strategy and they executed it well. They got one (goal) and we didn’t.”
Both teams had many opportunities to score, especially in the second half when each goalie made a few spectacular saves. In the 44th minute, Cedarcrest’s Cory Johnson passed across the middle of the goal to Evan Fassler, who jumped and kicked the ball in the air. Lakewood’s goalie, Peter Karrenberg, was able to catch it.
Lakewood had a close shot in the 68th minute when Joseph Hawkins’ kick bounced off the corner post.
After several other near misses, Lakewood finally connected in the 76th minute when Hawkins managed to knock the ball into the net amid a crowd of players.
“There was so much happening in there, I couldn’t really see it,” said Lakewood coach Vaughn Vandelac. “It was just a deflection off somebody and he gobbled it up and took the shot.”
Pittis had a better view of the goal: “Our keeper went out of the box and had his hands on it and it slipped out of his hands and then they laid it up and hit the bar and it bounced down. I didn’t see if it was in or out but the linesman was right there and he put his flag up immediately and he’s got the best angle.”
The lone goal was enough for Lakewood to upset the undefeated Red Wolves and advance to the state tournament as the district’s No. 1 seed. Cedarcrest will be the No. 2 seed.
It was also enough for the Cougars to get a little revenge after suffering a 7-0 loss on April 28.
“Last time we played them we were missing some guys, we had some guys sick, and they pretty much killed us,” said Vandelac. “(Cedarcrest) is good, so it was kind of nice beating them and ending their undefeated season.”
When the two teams met for the first time this season on March 25, both teams were undefeated and Cedarcrest won 1-0.
Lakewood plays at home on Tuesday against the District 4 No. 3 team in the first round of the 2A state tournament. Last year, the Cougars were eliminated in the quarterfinals after a loss to Aberdeen.
Cedarcrest also plays on Tuesday at home against the District 4 No. 4 school and, also like Lakewood, lost in the quarterfinals last year against Mark Morris.
“The whole team (had a good game),” said Vandelac. “That was, by far, the best game we’ve had all season.”
At Mt. Vernon H.S.
Goals—Lakewood: Hawkins. Goalkeepers—Lakewood: Karrenberg. Cedarcrest: Long. Records—Lakewood 12-3. Cedarcrest 14-1.
Anacortes 1, Sultan 0: At Mt. Vernon, Tanner Gallo scored the game-winner off a header in the 72nd minute in the winner-to-state, loser-out 2A District 1 playoff game.
At Mt. Vernon H.S.
Goals—Anacortes: Gallo. Assists—Anacortes: Sherman. Goalkeepers—Sultan: Randall. Anacortes: Thompson. Records—Anacortes not reported. Sultan 10-10 overall.
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