LAKE STEVENS — The Lake Stevens boys soccer team received a big boost with the return of Zach Wagner.
Wagner, a senior center-midfielder and a 2008 first-team all-league selection was ineligible for the first two games of the season, but returned Saturday night to lead the Vikings to a 2-0 Western Conference North Division home win over Monroe.
The Vikings (2-1-0 overall) weathered several Monroe (1-1-0) chances in the first half before Wagner broke through in the 61st minute with what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
Wagner took a pass from Wyatt Lee and slotted a shot passed Monroe goalkeeper Miles Garman. Wagner doubled the lead in the 78th minute (Zach Muth assisted), but it was goalkeeper Michael Pierce who kept the game close early.
“He (Pierce) made a big save in the first half,” Lake Stevens head coach Scott Flanders said. “If Monroe would have scored, it would have changed the complexity of the game.”
Monroe had multiple chances at the goal in the first half, according to head coach Ryan Schaeffer, but the Bearcats struggled to put together a strong attack.
“They just absolutely outhustled us,” Schaeffer said. “They (Lake Stevens) really deserved to win. … Our team just gave them too much space.”
Lake Stevens also took time building an attack while trying to adjust to Wagner’s return to the lineup.
“In the second half we started piecing it all together,” Flanders said.
Flanders said his squad rebounded nicely following a 2-1 loss to Snohomish on March 19.
“I thought our entire team played much better than the last game,” Flanders said.
Snohomish 5, Arlington 0: At Snohomish, Brendan Gundry scored twice for Snohomish en route to an easy Wesco North league win. Gundry scored in the 1st minute (Cody Melander assisted) and Gundry scored again in the 42nd minute. Sean Schaller (Daryn English assist), Reilly Cross (penalty kick) and Kevin Chittendon (Cross assist) all added goals for the Panthers (2-1-0). Melander recorded the shutout for Snohomish. Arlington’s (1-2-0) goalkeeper was not reported.
Cascade 4, Stanwood 1: At Everett, Reid Jones scored twice and Cascade dictated the tempo in a Wesco North win. Alex Voin and Patrick Rozanski added goals for Cascade (2-1-0 overall). Bernhanu Dillon scored the lone goal for Stanwood (0-2-1). Nick Morley (Cascade) and Dalton Alumbaugh (Stanwood) were the goalkeepers.
Oak Harbor 2, Everett 1: At Oak Harbor, Eric Ofori scored in the first 40 seconds for Everett (0-2-0 overall), but Kevin Flavin scored twice and Oak Harbor (2-1-0) won the Wesco North match. Flavin tied the game in the 12th minute and scored the game-winning goal in the 25th minute. Greg Wolfe assisted on Flavin’s second goal. Jack O’Neil recorded the win in goal for the Wildcats. Jesus Yeo minded the net for Everett.
Archbishop Murphy 3, Bremerton 2: At Bremerton, Ryan Downey scored the game-winning goal on a breakaway five minutes from the final whistle for Archbishop Murphy in a nonconference matchup. Trailing 2-0 after two Matt Olson goals, Jason Houts, Alexis Magana and Downey all netted second-half goals. Sean Ryan had two assists for the Wildcats (1-1-0). Ryne Riders tended the goal for Bremerton (record not reported) and Doug Ehlbracht was in goal for Murphy.
Port Townsend 5, South Whidbey 2: At Port Townsend, Port Townsend (2-1-0) got five goals to beat South Whidbey (0-1-0) on Saturday, Port Townsend’s goal scorers were not reported, their goalkeeper was Jesse Yourish. Ian McCauley scored on a penalty kick, and Henry Mead added a goal for South Whidbey. Ian Marsainy and Tegan Harshman split time at goalkeeper for the Falcons.
Sultan 3, Cascade (Leavenworth) 1: At Sultan, Cascade (record not reported) got on the board first in the 29th minute when Jose Availa (unassisted) beat Matthew Beckers, but Sultan came back with three straight. Juan Camayo (Alex Nicholas assist) scored in the 31st minute, Alex Nicholas (Brian Ordonez assist) followed in the 49th minute, and Axel Romeijn (Justin Swift assist) scored in the 55th minute. Eduardo Melendez was in goal for Cascade.
Coupeville 9, Friday Harbor 0: At Friday Harbor, Evan Coleman, Jason Stevenson and Nick Anthony all split time at goalkeeper Saturday for Coupeville (2-0-0), shutting out Friday Harbor (0-3-0). Jeff Wacker had four goals, Garrett Knoll had three goals, and Zeb Williams and Ben Hayes had one goal a piece for Coupeville in the victory. Ben Goodman was in goal for Friday Harbor.
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