The Cascade soccer team knows it won’t be easy the second time around.
Snohomish has outscored its opponents 84-9 a season after reaching the Class 4A state championship match. Two of the goals allowed gave the Panthers their only loss of the season, a 2-1 setback to Cascade on April 3.
Snohomish will be awaiting the Bruins tonight at Snohomish Veterans Memorial Stadium with vengeance on their minds. If revenge isn’t enough of a motivating factor, the Western Conference North Division title is also on the line. Though one game will remain for each team, tonight’s winner will likely end up the division champion.
When asked what kind of game he expects tonight’s to be, Cascade coach Randy Malikowski said, “You mean besides an all-out war?”
Snohomish coach Dan Pingrey, who was missing four starters and one bench player because they were traveling to the Dallas Cup with their club teams for the previous meeting, believes his team will be ready tonight.
“I don’t have to say a whole lot to psyche them up for this game,” Pingrey said.
In the April 3 game, the Bruins got their first goal when a Snohomish defender deflected a Cascade shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Ryan Riley. Snohomish tied the score at 1-1, but Stefan Tangen scored what proved to be the game winner with a minute remaining in the first half.
“I think they came in thinking they were going to destroy us,” said Tangen, a senior center midfielder. “It took them by surprise, us coming out hard and putting them on their heels.”
Tangen knows there will be no surprises this time around.
“We know they’re going to have a full team and that they’re playing to hold on to the No. 1 spot,” Tangen said. “They’re going to be coming out for revenge, so it’s going to be hard to match that.”
Cascade (11-2-1), which lost to fifth-place Marysville-Pilchuck 10 days after upsetting Snohomish, enters tonight’s match two points (the equivalent of one victory) behind the Panthers (12-1-1) in the division standings. A victory tonight would put the teams even with one game remaining for each. The Bruins would hold the tiebreaker if they beat Snohomish for the second time. The Panthers would secure the division title by winning tonight.
And securing the division championship means more than simple bragging rights. The title team plays the South Division’s No. 1 on May 12 for the Northwest District championship and a state berth. The loser of the district title game can still go to state by winning a May 14 game for the district’s second and final berth. The division runner-up must win three straight loser-out games in a solid district to earn the second berth.
Snohomish gave Cascade a chance at a tie in the division standings by tying Lake Stevens on Friday.
“We like to make things interesting,” said Pingrey, whose 2000 team won the Class 4A state championship.
Win or lose, both teams like the idea of playing a state-playoff caliber match toward the end of the regular season.
“It’s such a big game and so much is on the line,” Tangen said. “Snohomish is probably the best team we’ve played in our high school careers. They’re such a good team that no matter what happens, I think there’s respect for both teams.”
NOTES
Away practices: Getting to practice is no easy task for Lynnwood, Meadowdale and Mountlake Terrace pole vaulters. All Edmonds School District vaulters practice at Edmonds-Woodway High School, which enables the district to save money by not having to upgrade pole vault pits or hire coaches that meet the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association guidelines for the district’s three other high schools. Lynnwood has had its share of solid vaulters over the years, but Lynnwood track coach Duane Lewis wonders if that trend will continue.
“This may be the last of the breed,” said Lewis, who has coached track for 38 years. “It’s so inconvenient for our kids to get over to Edmonds-Woodway. The numbers this last year have really kind of dropped off, because it’s not acceptable.”
In addition to the inconvenience, the travel makes it more difficult for vaulters to compete in other events.
“When I first started coaching at Lynnwood, I had 14 foot vaulters that were vaulting into sawdust,” Lewis said. “The facilities are much better and it’s much safer. Now they want people who are not rookies in instruction to be working with these kids, and there are a lot more restrictive rules to follow as far as the vault is concerned.”
Roma, Schneider choose Western: Edmonds-Woodway’s Tiana Roma and Snohomish’s Courtney Schneider have signed letters of intent to play volleyball at Western Washington University. Schneider earned Class 4A All-State honorable mention, and Roma – the Class 4A high jump champion at last year’s state track meet – was selected to play in the East-West All-Star series. Both were Herald All-Area selections.
Murphy headed to Skagit: Kamiak’s Steve Murphy has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Skagit Valley College.
“We are very excited about Steve signing to play for us next season,” Skagit head coach Roger Valentine said of the 6-foot-6 post player in a press release. “He will bring toughness to our program along with a solid work ethic.”
Shorecrest’s Hale picks Willamette: Geneva Hale, a four-year starter at first base for the Shorecrest Scots, has made a verbal commitment to play college softball at Willamette University in Salem, Ore.
Hale’s team has made three straight state tournament trips, finishing first in 2001 (Class 4A) and second in 2002 (4A) and 2003 (3A).
A team co-captain, Hale is currently batting .500.
“I am really excited to coach a player like Geneva Hale,” Willamette coach Damian Williams said. “She will bring a lot of leadership and excitement to our program. Geneva will instantly became an impact player.”
Hale plans to major in exercise science with the ultimate goal of a post-graduate degree in physical therapy.
Glove work: The Everett School District is looking for adult volunteers to work at regional and state baseball tournament games May 22, 28 and 29 at Everett Memorial Stadium. Volunteers can work as few as one game or as many as all of them and would help with moving the field tarp and shagging fly balls. Those interested can call 425-385-4260.
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