The Archbishop Thomas Murphy High School girls soccer team will have heaps of support this afternoon. A special group of guys will root for the Lady Wildcats during their third consecutive Class A/B state semifinal game.
Whatever the outcome, these 18 supportive boys can’t cheer too long. Moments later, they will tackle an equally important challenge.
The Archbishop Murphy boys soccer team will play a state semifinal of their own after the girls game at Curtis High School in University Place.
The girls (15-0-3) play at 2 p.m. against Charles Wright (15-2-1); the boys (16-1-1) play their first-ever state semifinal at 4 p.m. against Seattle Christian (13-0-1).
If they win, the Archbishop Murphy girls will play the winner of today’s Cedar Park Christian-Liberty Bell game at 2 p.m. Saturday, also at Curtis. Should the boys triumph, they will face today’s Charles Wright-Trout Lake victor at 4 p.m. Saturday.
“That’s a pretty cool story for our humble school,” boys coach Jon Echols said.
Cool, too, since Archbishop Murphy is the only school in the final four that also fields a football team, highlighting how the soccer team excels despite losing great athletes to the gridiron.
“More than anything,” Echols said, “it’s a big deal because we have seven seniors on the team. I think all of them realize this is their last chance.”
This also could be the program’s final shot to win a state title in the fall. If Archbishop Murphy’s proposed jump to Class 2A happens next year, the Wildcats would compete in the spring.
Still, the Archbishop Murphy boys are not looking ahead. Ever since the Wildcats’ 2-1 state quarterfinal loss to Overlake last season, “they’ve been really focused,” Echols said.
And since mid-September, the Cats have circled Seattle Christian’s blip on their revenge radar. In the first game of the season for both teams, Archbishop Murphy led 4-0 with less than 20 minutes remaining in the second half before Seattle Christian stormed back to snag a 4-4 tie.
The high-stakes rematch should be intense.
“Both teams have improved,” Echols said. “The fact that we tied gives us some extra motivation.”
The Wildcats already had plenty of confidence.
“Last year was a big step,” Echols said. “Even though we didn’t win, we played well.”
Senior midfielder Andy Hewitt leads Archbishop Murphy with 34 goals this year.
Archbishop Murphy’s team speed is dangerous, Echols said. Chris Danford and Luke Hagel, among others, can burn even the most attentive defenders.
Hagel, a senior midfielder, has played outstanding lately, Echols said. A point guard for the basketball team, Hagel has good vision, strength and quickness.
“He just gets better and better and better with every game,” Echols said.
Sounds a lot like the Archbishop Murphy girls team.
After cruising (without losing) to claim another Northwest A League championship, the Wildcats pulled away late against semifinal opponent Charles Wright and won 5-2 in the Tri-district playoffs before edging Seattle Academy 3-2 in a loser-out state quarterfinal game last weekend.
Having placed third for two straight years, Archbishop Murphy wants to break new ground.
“It sounds great,” coach Pat Jack said of her team’s impressive three-year run. “But I’d really like to come off with something other than third. We’re kind of hoping the third time is the charm.”
Excitement – and added attention – comes with both Archbishop Murphy teams advancing.
“It’s nice,” Jack said. “It’s also a lot more pressure on the girls. They’re not used to having crowds.”
But they are used to winning.
Junior Kat Taylor is the Wildcats’ top scoring threat (42 goals) and one of the best in the state, while striker Casey Hammond has speed and midfielder Caitlin Warnock is a smart ball distributor.
Freshman Andrea Gaitan (14 goals) has become a strong scorer, too.
Archbishop Murphy can’t overlook Charles Wright despite a 5-2 victory in the teams’ previous game, Jack warned. Coming off multiple games, Charles Wright was exhausted, Jack said, and the Wildcats scored late to pull away in what had been a very close game.
“I’ve got to have the kids come out and play hard, stay focused,” she said.
A potential championship matchup against Cedar Park Christian has the Archbishop Murphy girls seeking redemption. Cedar Park, the two-time defending state champion, knocked the Wildcats out 2-1 in the semifinals last year (Cedar Park won in a shootout, 5-4, after two overtimes).
Earlier this season, the Wildcats fought Cedar Park to a 2-2 tie on Sept. 12.
Should the rematch happen, “We’d like to win it on the field,” Jack said.
Cedar Park is tough for several reasons, Jack said.
“They’ve got a lot of speed. They have good movement of the ball in the midfield and some good shooters. They’re well-coached.”
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