Five local high school boys soccer teams begin state tournament play this week with the hopes of advancing into next week’s final fours.
Edmonds-Woodway, Monroe, Shorecrest and Shorewood qualified in the 20-team Class 3A tournament. Archbishop Murphy reached the 16-team 2A tournament.
The 3A state semifinals and championships take place next Friday and Saturday at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup. The 2A state semifinals and championships are Friday and Saturday at Renton Memorial Stadium.
Here’s a look at the local teams:
Class 3A
Shorewood
The third-seeded Stormrays (16-2-1) open state tournament play with a round-of-16 home matchup against the winner of 19th-seeded Kent Meridian vs. 14th-seeded Ballard at 7 p.m. Thursday at Shoreline Stadium. After suffering a pair of losses that spoiled an unbeaten mark at the end of the regular season, Shorewood ran off three straight wins and claimed the 3A District 1 title, which included back-to-back wins over previously unbeaten Wesco 3A/2A champion Edmonds-Woodway in the semifinals and Northwest Conference champion Mount Vernon in the final. The Stormrays average 3.2 goals per match and allow just 0.7. Shorewood holds nine shutout victories and hasn’t allowed more than two goals in a match. Shorewood hasn’t been shutout this season, which includes nine games with three goals or more. This is the Stormrays’ first state appearance since 2015.
Edmonds-Woodway
The fourth-seeded Warriors (16-1-2) begin their state tournament journey at home 8 p.m. Friday in the round of 16 against the winner of No. 20 Auburn Mountainview vs. No. 13 Mead. E-W went unbeaten through the regular season on its way to winning the Wesco 3A/2A title, the program’s first league championship in 20 years. After suffering a tough 2-1 loss in the 3A District tournament semifinals against Shorewood, which is the only blemish on the Warriors’ record, E-W sealed its state berth with a 4-0 victory over Shorecrest on May 11. The Warriors led Wesco 3A/2A scoring at 3.3 goals per contest while allowing just 0.7. E-W has scored at least one goal in every game and three or more 13 times. The Warriors have recorded eight shutouts and have only allowed two multi-goal games. This is the second consecutive state appearance for E-W.
Edmonds-Woodway’s Victor Ibarra reacts to his goal during the game against Everett on May 1 in Edmonds. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Shorecrest
The 10th-seeded Scots (16-3-1) open state tournament action in the round of 16 against seventh-seeded Lakeside (Seattle) at 4 p.m. Friday at Edmonds Stadium. Shorecrest finished as the runner-up in Wesco 3A/2A and was one of just two teams in the conference to reach 14 league victories. The Scots rebounded from an upset loss in penalty kicks to Mountlake Terrace in the 3A District 1 tournament quarterfinals with two wins in their next three matches to reach state, including a 3-1 payback victory over Terrace in a winner-to-state, loser-out game May 13. Shorecrest averages 3.0 goals per contest and allows just 0.7. The Scots have recorded 10 shutouts and have allowed more than two goals just three times. They’ve scored three or more goals 10 times. This is the fifth consecutive state appearance and eighth in the past nine postseasons for Shorecrest.
Monroe
The 17th-seeded Bearcats (11-6-3) travel for an opening-round game against No. 16 North Thurston at 7 p.m. Wednesday at South Sound Stadium in Lacey. Monroe, which finished third at state last spring, placed fourth in Wesco 3A/2A this season and was one of four league teams to post at least twice as many wins as losses in conference play. The Bearcats punched their second consecutive ticket to state with a victory in penalty kicks over Mountlake Terrace in the 3A District 1 tournament May 11. Monroe averages 1.9 goals per match and allows 1.3. The Bearcats have been shut out just three times this season and have scored multiple goals 12 times. They’ve recorded seven shutouts and have allowed three goals or more just twice.
Monroe’s Nolan Kelly (10) and Shorewood’s Matthew Bereket (15) fight for the ball during a game at Monroe High School on April 7. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Class 2A
Archbishop Murphy
The 10th-seeded Wildcats (10-9-1) hit the road for a round-of-16 matchup against seventh-seeded Sammamish at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Sammamish High School. After falling in penalty kicks to Lynden in the quarterfinals of the 2A District 1 tournament, Archbishop Murphy rebounded with back-to-back shutout wins, including a 3-0 victory over defending state champion Squalicum, and got its revenge against Lynden with a win on penalty kicks in a winner-to-state, loser-out game May 13. The Wildcats average 1.9 goals per match and allow 1.8. The Wildcats have been shut out just twice this season and have scored multiple goals 10 times. They’ve recorded six shutouts. This is Archbishop Murphy’s first trip to state since a run of 10 straight appearances from 2009-18.
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