Mountlake Terrace needs to build more confidence

  • By David Pan Enterprise sports editor
  • Thursday, April 3, 2008 1:39pm

A young Mountlake Terrace boys soccer team is searching for more consistency.

At times the Hawks have played well as evidenced by their season-opening 2-1 victory over district rival Lynnwood and a well-played 1-0 loss to highly regarded Kamiak.

Other times, such as a 3-1 loss to district opponent Meadowdale on March 28, Mountlake Terrace’s inexperience is too much to overcome.

“At times we’ve played really well,” said Hawks coach Ken Higgins. “Sometimes they get in a panic and stop playing together. For the most part they’re a pretty young team. There are seven sophomores out there. So across the board they’re a pretty young team.”

All but two of those seven sophomores were on the junior varsity squad last season. The two who were not – goalkeeper Ben Winters and midfielder Manix Alvarez – started last season and are among the Hawks’ top returning players.

“Ben is an outstanding goalkeeper,” Higgins said. “He definitely keeps us in quite a few of the games. He’s a very good team leader. He’s vocal and very enthusiastic. He can get his teammates to rise to the occasion and play well.”

Senior Kyle Torrescano also helps to solidify the Hawks’ defense.

Alvarez is a key part of the Mountlake Terrace offense along with sophomore Kiefer Higgins and sophomore Alejandro Taizan. Kiefer Higgins is Ken Higgins’ nephew.

A by-product of starting so many underclassmen is that the Hawks find themselves outsized by their competition. Instead Mountlake Terrace tries to use its speed to its advantage.

“We just try to play quick possession ball,” coach Higgins said. “I think that’s the way the guys have to play in order to get around the physical size and strength of the other team.”

Mountlake Terrace trailed Meadowdale 2-0 late in the second half when sophomore Taizan scored in the 82nd minute. The goal energized the Hawks.

“You saw after we did score the guys’ pace of play really changed,” coach Higgins said. “It gave them a bit of confidence. They put their minds and heart to it. That’s what they have to come out with every time. There’s no team in Wesco they can’t play with if they come out with the effort and the attitude. Those are two things that they have control of.”

The lack of confidence of the younger Hawks plays a role in the loss to the Mavericks, Alvarez said. “We could have played better. We played a little scared. We didn’t come with it today.”

Mountlake Terrace rebounded from Friday’s loss with a 1-0 victory over Mariner March 31 at Goddard Stadium. Sophomore Dylan O’Day scored the lone goal off an assist from Alvarez.

“Even though they’re a smaller team compared to some of the other Wesco teams … Terrace can play with the other teams,” coach Higgins said. “It’s just a matter of confidence and going in with the right attitude.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.