MUKILTEO — After losing two games on penalty kicks and dropping a heartbreaker to Lake Stevens in the final five minutes earlier this year, the Snohomish soccer team wouldn’t let Thursday night’s Wesco 4A game with Kamiak slip away.
The Panthers (5-4 league, 5-5 overall) needed every minute of two overtimes, but triumphed 4-3 over Kamiak (3-6, 3-8).
A Carson Pingrey set piece yielded the game-winner. In the 89th minute Pingrey tossed a throw in to Reilly Cross, who fed Collin Shelton for a back post golden goal.
“We finally got it in the end,” coach Pingrey said. “It’s about time.”
The win means Snohomish is alone in second place but the Panthers are still aiming for first despite trailing Marysville-Pilchuck by six points.
“That’s what we needed,” coach Pingrey said. “If we win all of our games We have a chance at still getting first place and that’s what we need to do.
“It’s a lot easier to get out of the playoffs if you are in first place.”
Behind 3-2, Snohomish began an assault on Kamiak goalie Austin Porter with around 10 minutes to play in regulation. The Panthers attempted six corners and almost as many free kicks deep in the Knights’ end before finding the equalizer just before the end of regulation.
“We were pounding their goal,” Snohomish coach Dan Pingrey said. “Their keeper did a very nice job.”
Porter held off the barrage but couldn’t handle a header from Troy McCarty at the end. Carson Pingrey’s corner was handled by Connor Barton, who flicked it to McCarty for the finish that sent the game to overtime.
Kamiak’s final goal came when Tyler Uddin drilled a free kick that deflected off Snohomish keeper Brendan George in the 56th minute. The Panther defense failed to react quickly as Sammy Cho knocked home the deflection to give Kamiak a 3-2 lead that held up until the 79th minute.
Kamiak needed a win to strengthen its hold on third place and the third playoff spot in the Wesco South and the Knights jumped out to an early lead. Jordan Myers scored in the ninth minute on an assist from Zach Faller to make the game 1-0.
Barton evened the score for Snohomish in the 13th minute on a Connor Nutt assist.
McCarty then gave the Knights a short-lived 2-1 advantage just after halftime thanks to another Nutt assist.
The most controversial goal of the night came from Faller who’s shot in the 50th minute was deflected and hit the top of the net, tying the score at 2-2. The Panthers argued the shot went over the net and was out of bounds, but the Knights — and ultimately the referee — decided the shot went under the crossbar and through a hole in the top of the net.
Kamiak coach Garfield Scott was happy with how his team held its composure throughout the game.
“I’m proud of the way our players stepped up and fought hard,” he said.
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