EVERETT — The Jackson boys soccer team had one main objective in the first half of last week’s Western Conference South Division game against Meadowdale.
Wolfpack coach Josten Garalde wanted to shut down the high-powered Meadowdale offense, which had scored six goals in its first two league games.
The Timberwolves achieved their goal and more, withstanding a pair of dangerous Meadowdale scoring opportunities and emerged with a 0-0 tie April 14 at Everett Memorial Stadium.
“We’re happy with the score,” said Jackson goalkeeper Andrew McDonald, who recorded his second shutout of the season. “We played good. It was our best game of the season. Meadowdale is a good team.”
Garalde also agreed that the game was the best showing of the season by his players.
“They came out with confidence and kind of a no fear attitude,” he said. “They really wanted it today.”
Meadowdale might have pulled out a late victory were it not for the superb play of McDonald. The Mavericks’ best scoring opportunity took place with about four minutes remaining in regulation.
Meadowdale’s junior midfielder Gunnar Johannesson was taken down at about the 22-yard line, which led to a free kick by senior forward Brandon Norton. The shot somehow got past the Wolfpack wall but was corralled by McDonald.
“I just read it pretty good,” McDonald said. “I hung on to it.”
Meadowdale had another free kick about two minutes into the second overtime period when Johannesson was again roughed up deep inside Jackson territory.
Norton passed the ball to senior midfielder Alec Nelson this time. Nelson then crossed the ball to sophomore midfielder Jordan Correa, whose header missed the mark.
“He made some very good saves,” Garalde said of McDonald. “There were shots all around and he came up very strong, especially in the last 10 minutes.”
Meadowdale coach Darrell Hamilton said his team appeared to be off its game.
“I didn’t think we played very well,” Hamilton said. “I thought that Jackson played well … we didn’t play like we’ve been playing the last few games.”
Meadowdale opened league play with a pair of 3-0 victories over Mountlake Terrace and Edmonds-Woodway.
But the Mavericks produced no offensive fireworks against a stingy Jackson defense.
“I thought our touch wasn’t very good,” Hamilton said. “We just didn’t hook up very well … we had some good chances. I thought their keeper played outstanding. He had three or four really nice saves and we had a couple of opportunities that we just kind of missed.”
Before the game, Garalde urged his players to focus on shutting down the Mavericks.
“We wanted a shutout in the first half,” Garalde said. “That was our main goal. (It) came out to two shutouts for both halves.”
To accomplish this goal, Jackson had about eight players within 30 yards of the goal.
“They dropped a lot of people back defensively,” Hamilton said. “They played very well defensively. We got a few opportunities, but the knocked down a lot of stuff. They stayed very organized. I thought that was the key to the thing as far as them not letting us score. We did get some chances, but we didn’t really break them down that much and we’ve been doing that to other teams.”
The Wolfpack dominated play early on in the first half in part because Hamilton had to juggle his lineup due to the absence of senior defender Nick Holmes, who was injured.
Senior goalkeeper Nick Tasche recorded the shutout for the Mavericks.
Meadowdale had a couple of players out of position as a result and Jackson took advantage.
“I had to switch some people around, so it took them a while for that mix to get working together,” Hamilton said. “It wasn’t the same group of guys that they’re used to playing with.”
Jackson also is a team that played well to start the game.
“We always play really strong (early on),” Garalde said. “I think Meadowdale was settling in.”
The Timberwolves spent the last few practices working on building more team unity and they seemed to have achieved the results they were looking for, Garalde said.
Jackson spent some time working on communication in the classroom and at team dinners.
“That is what has really brought us together as a team,” Garalde said. “The morale of the whole team has been positive.”
Jackson opened league play with a 5-0 loss to Kamiak on April 5 but then rebounded with a 3-0 victory over Mountlake Terrace on April 11. Edmonds-Woodway edged Jackson 1-0 in an April 18 matchup.
McDonald said that tie with Meadowdale was a boost to the young Timberwolves.
“This helps a lot,” he said. “It gives us more confidence.”
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