SHORELINE
After a prep soccer season marked by penalty kick shootouts in the playoffs, it seemed fitting that an all-star game would end in the same fashion.
In the shootout, Stanwood’s Berhanu Dillon converted to give the Wesco North all-stars a 4-3 edge. Shorewood’s Ciaran Regan followed and hit the left post for the Wesco South all-stars and the North claimed a 1-0 victory Tuesday night at Shoreline Stadium.
“I had fun,” said Dillon, a sophomore midfielder who also goes by Bob and came from Ethiopia a year-and-a-half ago.
Fun was what the night was all about and with the game tied 0-0 as regulation ended, North coach Dan Pingrey looked over at game organizer Drew Thompson and they figured why not play overtime.
After two scoreless five-minute periods, they decided they couldn’t go home without a winner.
Marysville-Pilchuck goalkeeper Erik Cruz got a piece of the South’s first three shots, but they all found the net. The North converted its first three attempts, but Shorecrest goalkeeper Andrew McDonald dove to his right to block a shot by Snohomish’s Diego Robayo to give the South an edge.
It didn’t last long.
Shorecrest’s Josh Rudnick hit the left post and the North kept pace. Dillon confidently put his shot in and Regan’s miss ended the night.
The shootout was the first in the four-year history of the game.
Both teams had plenty of opportunities to score before the shootout but came up short. The South stroked 22 shots while the North had nine.
The game is a fun way to end the season but it meant a lot to the players to be in it.
Kamiak senior Dylan Gaddy, who played for the South, made the team last year but couldn’t play because he lacerated his liver in spring football workouts. He played despite suffering a compound fracture in his right big toe in a club game last week.
He played with a splint on it.
“I couldn’t miss it,” said Gaddy, who will play for Pacific Lutheran next year.
It’s the last time the players suited up for a high school game. Some will play in college, while for others it’s one last opportunity to play with teammates and rivals.
“It’s pretty sad, it’s my last game,” said McDonald, who will play for the Merchant Marine Academy in New York next year. “I’ve played with all these guys all my life.”
Wesco North girls 3, Wesco South girls 0: Snohomish senior Lacee Ross capped her high school career with a goal off a rebound in the 16th minute to help the North girls to the victory.
South goalkeeper Caroline Towles blocked a shot by Everett’s Kylie Beeson but Ross collected the ball on the right side of the goal from 10 yards out and nailed the shot to put the North on the board.
Despite suiting up only 11 players, the North continued to add to their lead in the second half.
Forward Annie Sittauer, a sophomore from Everett, scored in the 56th minute, turning and shooting from inside the goal box.
Marysville-Pilchuck’s Kassandra Riozzi, who will play for Seattle University next year, buried a shot from 25 yards in the back of the net in the 72nd minute to finish off the scoring.
The South outshot the North 24-18, but couldn’t get anything past Snohomish goalkeeper Madison Goverde, another Seattle University signee.
Putting on the games was an-all volunteer effort. Referees Dave Augustavo and Will Niccolls donated their time.
Soccer West and Diadora donated the players’ jerseys and Johnson Insurance provided liability coverage. The Shoreline School District offered up its stadium for free.
Thompson, who coaches the Shorecrest boys, and Teddy Mitalas, who coaches the Holy Names girls and Kennedy boys, organized the games.
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