STANWOOD — Shorewood and Stanwood players went tit-for-tat during a 10-round shootout before the final shot by a Spartans player went over the crossbar to give the visiting Thunderbirds a 9-8 shootout victory in a 3A District 1 Tournament first-round game.
Tied at 2 at the end of regulation and then again after a pair of scoreless overtime periods, Shorewood and Stanwood went to a shootout. Stanwood goalkeeper Riley Martin saved the fourth Shorewood attempt and Spartans striker Laurence Wanambisi nailed his attempt to give Stanwood the lead going into the fifth, and final, round of the shootout.
But after Kabir Miiyaoka scored his attempt, Shorewood goalkeeper Isaac Whitaker blocked Nathan Thompson’s attempt to keep the Thunderbirds’ hopes alive.
The two teams then traded four straight rounds of made attempts before Shorewood’s Ian Callender made the 10th shot to put the pressure on Stanwood. The Spartans’ next attempt then went over the crossbar and the Shorewood players lined up at midfield erupted in celebration and ran to the side of Whitaker to enjoy the win.
Shorewood advances to play Glacier Peak in the 3A District 1 Tournament semifinals on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Shoreline Stadium. Shorewood and Glacier Peak tied in both their meetings this season.
“The two teams are so close in talent that it’s going to come down to one mistake,” said Shorewood head coach Bill Wilkins. “We’re going to have to earn it.”
Stanwood came out aggressive and went up early after a pair of second-chance goals. Colin Cuchna banged in a rebound with his left foot to open the scoring and Ben VanSant, off an assist from Wanambisi, made it 2-0 a little later in the first half.
But Shorewood’s Anthony Pepe would score a pair of goals just minutes apart late in the first half — the second goal came in injury time — to even the score at 2-2 at halftime.
In the second half, the lid went on the goal as both teams couldn’t score for the next 50 minutes.
Stanwood hosts Marysville Getchell in a loser-out game on Tuesday.
At Stanwood H.S.
Shorewood won 9-8 in a shootout
Goals—Colin Cuchna (St), Ben VanSant (St), Anthony Pepe (SW) 2. Assists—Laurence Wanambisi (St), Justin Collins (SW), Dylan Collins (SW). Goalkeepers—Shorewood: Isaac Whitaker. Stanwood: Riley Martin. Records—Shorewood 10-3-4 overall. Stanwood 8-8-1.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
