PUYALLUP — When the final whistle blew, the Snohomish Panthers raced to the sideline in exultation, hopping over the chain-link fence to celebrate with their fans in the stands.
They knew they’d just joined select company in Snohomish High School history.
Snohomish was crowned the 4A state boys soccer champion Saturday evening as they defeated the Ferris Saxons 2-1 at Sparks Stadium.
Tanner Corrie and Blake Crutchfield scored first-half goals, then Snohomish held on late as the Panthers the third boys soccer state title in school history.
“It brings tears to my eyes,” junior defender Gus Baxter said. “I’m surprised (the tears) haven’t started yet. It feels extraordinary knowing there’s going to be a banner in the gym now that says, ‘2014 Snohomish boys soccer.’”
The 2014 Panthers (20-2) join the teams from 2000 and 2006 as having reached the state pinnacle.
“Each team has their strengths and weaknesses,” said Snohomish coach Dan Pingrey, who coached all three state champions. “But every single championship team I’ve ever been a part of has been a family. It’s so cliche, but it’s so right. These guys love each other, they are a family, they’ve played like that. In good times, bad times, injuries, they’ve stuck together. That’s what always makes the difference.
“It was a battle out there today, but I’m so proud of these guys and how much work they’ve done.”
Snohomish played a clinical first half to grab a 2-0 lead, with Crutchfield’s long throw-ins creating both goals. Then Ferris (18-3) picked up its play in the second half, pulling within one on Jonathan Gagalo’s goal with 16 minutes remaining. The Saxons then pressed for the tying goal in the final minutes and came inches away on a scramble following a free kick. But Baxter cleared the ball off the goal line, and the Panthers held on to hoist the trophy.
“It’s been incredible,” Crutchfield, who fought through a 103-degree fever to play this weekend, said with his voice cracking. “I’ve been playing with nine of these guys since I was 11 and we all came together. We brought up some freshmen, they did incredible and stepped up to the plate. They helped monstrously and they all showed they can play with the best. I wouldn’t choose any other team to battle through this with me.”
It looked like Snohomish was going to cruise to the championship during a first half in which the Panthers bossed play.
Snohomish needed just six minutes to open the scoring, and it was a familiar formula that led to the goal. Crutchfield’s long throw-ins were a major source of Snohomish’s offense throughout the postseason, and he heaved a long throw from the right sideline off the Ferris crossbar. The ensuing rebound created a scramble in front and eventually Corrie, who put a shot off the outside of the post moments earlier, was able to place a bouncing ball into the top corner with the outside of his foot, giving the Panthers a quick 1-0 lead.
“It’s just one of those goals where I was at the right place at the right time,” said Corrie, a junior transfer from Monroe who scored in both the semifinals and the finals. “It bounced out and I had to take advantage of my opportunity.”
Then 14 minutes later Crutchfield did it himself. Snohomish had a throw-in from the identical spot, and this time Crutchfield’s goal-bound throw tipped off Ferris goalkeeper Alex Pells’ hands and into the net. Had the ball gone into the net without being touched it wouldn’t have been a goal. Instead, the Panthers took a 2-0 lead.
“Those (throws) paid off huge in this game,” the junior defender said. “A couple mistakes, but I’ll take them. A win’s a win.”
Snohomish continued to control play the rest of the first half, with Uriel Herrera having a pair of chances off corner kicks. On the best chance his flicked near-post header, which was ticketed for the far corner, was cleared off the line by a Ferris defender. Nevertheless, the Panthers took a comfortable 2-0 lead into halftime.
Herrera could have made it 3-0 in the opening minutes of the second half when he outmuscled a Ferris defender for a through ball and was free on goal, but Pells smothered the shot away for a corner kick.
From that point Ferris picked up its game and had several dangerous set pieces, but Snohomish goalkeeper Ryan Peters was a calm and confident presence dealing with the balls played into the box. Then at the other end Snohomish broke three-on-one, with Herrera playing George Montemoor in free. But Pells made a big save to keep it 2-0.
Then Ferris struck. On a free kick 30 yards out, Peters made a great diving save on the first header. However, Gagalo was able to put in the rebound to get the Saxons within one with 16 minutes remaining.
With time winding down the Saxons pulled a page from the Snohomish playbook, with Matt Beaulaurier heaving long throws into the goal mouth. When he sent one goalward in the 76th minute, it created a scramble that looked like was going to lead to the tying goal. However, Baxter reached back and hooked the ball just off the line. The Ferris players claimed the ball crossed the line before Baxter cleared it. But the linesman, who was right on the goal line, did not agree.
“It was real close,” Baxter said. “I don’t think it was touching the line, (the Saxons) freaked out a little bit, but it wasn’t as close as I thought. It was scary though, really scary.”
But that was the final scare for Snohomish, and soon after the Panthers were able to celebrate.
At Sparks Stadium
Goals—Tanner Corrie (S), Blake Crutchfield (S), Jonathan Gagalo (F). Assists—Crutchfield. Goalkeepers—Snohomish: Ryan Peters. Ferris: Alex Pells. Records—Snohomish 20-2. Ferris 18-3.
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