CAMAS — Two years ago, Eric Marty was all set to bang in the goals as a forward for the Meadowdale boys soccer team.
But now, Marty’s job is to keep those goals out and last week his efforts carried the Mavericks to their first ever state championship game.
Meadowdale’s senior goalkeeper made three saves in the shootout, and the Mavericks defeated the Shorecrest Scots 2-1 in the Class 3A state semifinals May 28 at Camas High School.
“It feels awesome, it’s unbelievable,” Marty said about reaching the championship game. “Last year when we went home to the hotel (after losing to Camas in the semifinals) we were wondering how you can outshoot a team by 10 shots and lose. But this year we took care of business when it counted.”
Solly Gold scored in regulation for Meadowdale (19-2-1), which advanced to face Mount Rainier for the state title. Joey Crudo scored in regulation for Shorecrest (13-5-4).
In a tightly contested game between Western Conference South Division teams that split their two previous meetings this season, it was Meadowdale that won when it counted most.
“Shorecrest is a very defensive-minded team with a good keeper,” said Meadowdale coach Darrell Hamilton. “We’re an offensive team, so they’re very difficult for us to play against. You have to have quality shots or get a break like we did today. I thought we broke them down three or four times and had good shots.”
And the Mavericks also had Marty.
Marty was a forward for his select team and was scheduled to continue in that role last season for Meadowdale. However, an injury to the expected starter just before the season began thrust Marty into goal and against Shorecrest he looked like a seasoned veteran.
In the shootout, Marty dove full out to his right to save shots from Crudo and Taylor Starkey, then laid out to his left to save Rylan Hawkins’ shot, giving the Mavericks the victory.
“They were hitting them well,” Marty said of Shorecrest’s shooters. “I was just able to get a bead on them. And then I was scheduled to be our last shooter and I didn’t want to blow it, so I figured I’d try to take care of it there.”
Said Shorecrest coach Teddy Mitalas: “They watched us our last two games (which ended with shootouts) and it was unfortunate they saw us. You could see right away that Marty knew where we were going.
“But no one thought we’d be here, so I’m proud of the guys,” Mitalas added. “We did better than we expected to do.”
Alec Nelson, Josh Swett and Colin Kosco converted in the shootout for Meadowdale and Colin Adams and Kurtis Wong scored in the shootout for Shorecrest.
Meadowdale struck first in the 35th minute. John Turk’s free kick into the penalty box was nodded down in front by Swett. Shorecrest goalkeeper Hawkins fumbled the ball at his feet and as he reached out to grab it, Gold punched the ball in to make it 1-0.
Shorecrest tied it up four minutes later. Adams chipped the ball over the top, where Elliot Richards raced onto it. Richards slid the ball in front, leaving Marty stranded, and Crudo, racing down the middle, powered it in with his first touch to make it 1-1.
Nick Patterson writes for The Herald in Everett.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
