LYNNWOOD — It’s too early to say if Mountlake Terrace’s victory in its league opener is a sign of things to come.
The Hawks certainly hope so.
After scoring only five goals in its previous six games, the Mountlake Terrace offense came alive at a most opportune time.
The Hawks tallied five goals in the second half to break open a tight game and defeat district rival Lynnwood 7-0 in a Western Conference 4A South Division boys soccer game April 11 at Lynnwood High School.
Mountlake Terrace coach Jerry Myers didn’t anticipate a rout, especially in light of his team’s offensive woes during the preseason.
“I wasn’t expecting to score that many going in,” he said.
Despite taking a 2-0 lead in the first half, Myers felt that the Hawks were playing a little tight, which was part of the reason why they were only able to convert on two of 17 shot opportunities.
The nervousness appeared to dissipate in the second half and Mountlake Terrace converted on five of 18 shot attempts.
“I just think we relaxed a little and started making shots,” Myers said.
Mountlake Terrace’s Martin Leites scored his first hat trick of the season and teammate Brandon Hanson added two goals. Marcus Hanna and Shaun Morey each added a goal.
The first half was indicative of some of the Hawks’ troubles during the preseason. Mountlake Terrace was coming off a 2-1 loss to Shorewood and had played to scoreless tie with Meadowdale and 1-1 tie with Everett.
The Hawks have had plenty of opportunities and actually outshot the Thunderbirds 8-4 in the second half. The Hawks have been averaging 15 shots a game, which is a decent amount, according to Myers. Following its league opener, Meadowdale shut out Mountlake Terrace 2-1 in an April 14 contest.
“We’re just real frustrated,” Myers said. “The shots haven’t been going in.”
What’s fueled Mountlake Terrace’s 4-3-2 start (1-1 in the league) is its defense. The Hawks have allowed only seven goals in nine games and have recorded a pair of shutouts.
“I think defense is where we’ve been coming on,” Myers said.
Mountlake Terrace, which hasn’t been to the playoffs since 1998, is coming off a 2-12-2 campaign.
The difference this year is talent, said co-captain Hanson.
“In past years we haven’t had as much talent as we have his year,” he said. “The players that we’ve had since freshman and sophomore years … all have been playing together for multiple years. That helps out a lot.”
Leites, however, is a newcomer to the Hawks. The junior forward made quite an impression on first-year Lynnwood coach Tim Colvin.
“(He) was by far one of the most superior players I’ve seen in this league,” Colvin said.
Colvin continues to see plenty of potential from a Lynnwood team that also has struggled in recent years.
Sophomore goalkeeper Blake Ray kept Lynnwood’s close with several spectacular saves in the first half, noted Colvin, who added that freshmen Luke St. Marie and Aldin Tirak also played well.
“The thing I continue to struggle with these guys is continuing to impress on them that … they need to learn what it means to win,” Colvin said. “The ability is there. The effort is there. The skills are there.”
The Royals have played well in the first half of most of their preseason games this season.
“That’s the way it’s been consistently all season,” Colvin said. “I’ve got guys that really care about their teammates. They care about working hard. They care about listening and to me those are all the fundamental foundation blocks to then build on with some of the younger players … I’m encouraged with the younger players. We just need a win.”
For Hanson and his teammates, the future is now and their goal is securing one of the league’s fourth berths to districts, not an easy task in what is regarded as a tough league.
“We’re working well as a team right now,” Hanson said. “I like the work ethic of our team.”
Myers isn’t ready to declare the Hawks are a playoff team just yet but the team definitely is improved.
“We’ve had a lot of tough seasons,” he said. “They (players) have gone through a lot of losses. They really appreciate the wins that we’re getting now.”
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