EVERETT — Caleb Houvener’s hat trick overcame goals by each of Lake Stevens’ Aitken brothers as Jackson edged the Vikings 3-2 in a Wesco crossover match.
“The whole match was close and both teams battled and played well,” Lake Stevens head coach Kit Shanholtzer said.
Lake Stevens opened the scoring in the 28th minute with Taylor Aitken getting on the end of a Colter Hill cross and heading home from 3 yards out.
But Jackson tied the game almost immediately with an almost identical goal.
A minute after conceding, Cameron Hauenstein’s cross found Houvener in the box and the senior’s header found the back of the net.
“The first two goals were basically the exact same thing,” Shanholtzer said. “They were two of the most beautiful goals I’ve seen.”
Houvener tallied his second in the 50th after Luke Hong deflected a pass in the midfield and Houvener gained possession. Houvener dribbled through the middle of the defense and bent a shot around the Lake Stevens keeper from 20 yards out.
The Vikings answered six minutes later when Blake Sanders redirected a free kick to Austin Aitken and the younger Aitken scored a goal on a header.
Houvener completed his hat trick just five minutes from the end of the match, getting the last touch off a Brady Witsoe corner kick. Jackson then survived a Lake Stevens onslaught in the final four minutes. The Vikings had four corners and three offensive throw-ins, but could not beat T-Wolves goalkeeper Armando Huerta.
“The last four minutes they really pounded us,” Jackson head coach Brett Norton said. “But credit our defense and goalie. (Huerta) made three or four saves by punching that saved the two points for us.”
At Everett Memorial Stadium
Goals—Caleb Houvener (J) 3, Taylor Aitken (LS) 1, Austin Aitken (LS) 1. Assists—Colter Hill (LS) 1, Cameron Haunenstein (J) 1, Blake Sanders (LS) 1, Luke Hong (J) 1, Goalkeepers—Lake Stevens: Brennon Countryman and James Tanner headed off crossbar. Jackson: Armando Huerta. Records—Lake Stevens 3-3-1 league, 4-3-1 overall. Jackson 6-1, 7-2.
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