Snohomish’s Conner Smith (right) gets pushed off the ball by Roosevelt’s Mattias Cochard during the 3A State Championship at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup on Saturday, May 27. Roosevelt beat Snohomish 2-0. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

Snohomish’s Conner Smith (right) gets pushed off the ball by Roosevelt’s Mattias Cochard during the 3A State Championship at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup on Saturday, May 27. Roosevelt beat Snohomish 2-0. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

Roosevelt defense shuts down Snohomish in 3A title game

PUYALLUP — Snohomish boys soccer coach Matt Raney was briefly overcome with emotion while pondering his team’s season after Saturday’s 3A state championship game at Carl Sparks Stadium.

“I measure success differently,” Raney said minutes after his team lost to Roosevelt 2-0. “I measure success by the heart of a young man, his willingness to get down on one knee to connect with a young child at eye level. I measure success by watching kids spend their spring break in Marysville helping people in need instead of being on a beach somewhere. I measure success by watching them treat their mothers, grandmothers and girlfriends with respect.

“In that regard, we had nothing but success this season.”

Sure, the Panthers would’ve liked to have won the state championship. That was their singular goal all season long. They felt as though they had the talent, experience and pedigree — they won state titles in 2014 and 2015 — to emerge on top once again.

But it wasn’t meant to be. The Rough Riders won the Metro League regular-season championship based on the play of their solid defense. Entering Saturday’s contest, they had allowed fewer than one goal per contest, with nine shutouts.

Roosevelt’s defense dominated again Saturday. Snohomish, which entered the title game with an average of 3.9 goals per contest, mustered just four shots (two on goal) and one corner kick.

“They did an excellent job of discouraging our strengths,” Raney said. “If you slow us down from scoring, you’re going to beat us. We didn’t find a rhythm early, and then it turned into a midfield battle and we got bulldozed a few times, which led to some key injuries. But we never stopped believing (we could win).”

Three Snohomish players left the game with injuries. None of them returned.

“Our defense is good because we stress it in practice,” Roosevelt coach Gary Hunter said. “Everyone knows their role. They stay together back there, and nobody goes outside their roles. The kids know what to do on defense.”

Vincent Duyungan scored the game’s first goal in the 45th minute, and Avery Jacobson added the clincher in the 80th minute.

Raney said the growth and maturity that his team displayed throughout the course of the season wasn’t limited to the soccer field.

“There’s no doubt they developed a camaraderie and a trust in each other,” he said. “As far as growth? I watched their accomplishments in the classroom, bringing up their (performance) after struggling. They solved problems on the pitch and off it. There was so much growth that I’ll have to take a deep breath to consider it all.

“When you dream big, it hurts when you fall short. But we’ll still keep chasing that dream. Chasing that dream will help them on the pitch and in life.”

Roosevelt 2, Snohomish 0

Goals: Vincent Duyungan (R), Avery Jacobson (R).

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Silvertips forward Carter Bear fields questions after the Detroit Red Wings selected him 13th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles on June 27, 2025. (Photo courtesy Natalie Shaver / CHL)
Two weeks after Draft, Silvertips’ Bear still can’t believe it

The Red Wings’ first-rounder reflects on draft night and his experience at Detroit’s development camp.

Storm flies too close to the Sun, loses in an upset

Connecticut snapped a 10-game losing streak to beat Seattle 93-83 on Wednesday morning.

Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees flips his bat after hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in New York. (Evan Bernstein / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Raleigh, Judge heat up homer race at Yankee Stadium

In the battle of baseball’s biggest sluggers, Aaron Judge… Continue reading

Seattle Seahawks linebackers Derick Hall (58) and Boye Mafe (53) celebrate a defensive play during the 2024 season. (Rio Giancarlo / Getty Images / The Athletic)
Season to reveal long-term plans for Seahawks linebackers

The Seattle Seahawks selected edge rusher Boye Mafe with… Continue reading

Silvertips defenseman wins U20 Ball Hockey World Title with Canada

Rylan Pearce helps Canada win gold at the ISBHF U20 World Championships in Slovakia.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) makes a catch against San Francisco 49ers defensive back Rashard Robinson (33) in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer / Bay Area News Group / Tribune News Services)
Sports psychologist changed Seahawks’ Doug Baldwin’s outlook

The former receiver overcame intense emotions during his player career

Paolo Banchero, Orlando agree to max contract extension

The former O’Dea star could earn up to $287 million over five years.

NHL players, owners vote to ratify 4-year CBA

Notable changes include an 84-game season starting in 2026, shorter contract terms.

AquaSox outfielder Carson Jones gets settled in the batter's box during Everett's 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 6, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox show progress, but drop fifth straight to Canadians

Jones’ go-ahead, 3-run homer is spoiled in 4-3 loss to wrap up homestand.

Bryan Woo of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Friday, April 18, 2025, in Toronto. (Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Three Mariners added to MLB All-Star Game

Major League Baseball announced today that Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez,… Continue reading

George Kirby (68) of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at T-Mobile Park on Sunday, July 6, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenne / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Pirates finish historically bad offensive series in Seattle

Similar to the first two games of the series, the… Continue reading

Seattle Storm forward Alysha Clark (32) and Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) guard each other during a free throw in a WNBA basketball game between the Aces and the Seattle Storm at Michelob ULTRA Arena Friday, June 20, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter / Las Vegas Review-Journal / Tribune News Services)
Storm uses third-quarter thunderbolt to down Liberty

Rookie Dominique Malonga scored 11 and took over in the third quarter for Seattle.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.