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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

North Central Soccer Team Takes Big Win By Committee Three Ferris Players Ejected, Will Miss Opening Playoff Game

It was amazing that North Central beat Ferris for the District 8 boys soccer title Tuesday night and even more amazing how the Indians did it.

NC, blistered 7-0 in the regular-season meeting, battled the Saxons to a shootout.

That’s when first-year NC coach Tim Cox gave seldom-used senior Jeff Fox the responsibility of picking the Indians’ five shooters.

Among those Fox selected was senior captain Nate Stanton. Stanton then deferred to freshman Dustin Allbery, who scored one of the shootout goals that gave the Indians the Greater Spokane League’s top seed into the state playoffs.

NC will be at home Saturday at 1 p.m. against Eisenhower while Ferris will be forced to travel to Moses Lake, home of the Big Nine champions.

Cox credited leadership for part of a turnaround that saw NC’s Indians win four straight games in loser-out situations before the seeding game.

“We settled on our starters and then the guys knew their role,” he said. “I think a big part of our success is not our starters but our bench. They haven’t got a lot of game time but they’ve put a lot of pressure on the starters in practice. They understand their role, and we’re a team, from the top guy to a guy that hasn’t seen any game time.”

That’s when he revealed Fox’s role, which led to Stanton’s decision.

“We have goals for each game … one is to be ready for each game and (Stanton) has taken on that role,” Cox said. “He’s been a fantastic team leader.”

Cox also praised senior keeper and co-captain Spencer Jewell, who has helped the team bond off the field.

Still, seven goals is a lot to make up in soccer.

“We tried a different system of play against them and did a little bit of man marking,” Cox said. “We worked on a couple of set pieces that made us a little more threatening and held them off into overtime.

“They got frustrated and we kept our heads about us. That did make a big difference. It was the first time they were in a losing situation, and I don’t think they were used to that.”

In fact, three Saxons were ejected from the game: keeper Tommy Servine, midfielder Abbas Faridnia and defensive leader Billy Sleeth. They automatically must sit out the next game.

“North Central played great, they did a great job,” said Ferris coach Robin Crain, who coached NC prior to this year. “Except for a couple, they were all my kids, so, yeah, it was bittersweet. If any team did it, I would want North Central to do it.”

The behavior of his team, though, disturbed the coach.

“Composure. It’s been maintained all season long and it’s gone in one game,” Crain said. “All (three) of them committed yellow-card offenses twice, so they were given red cards. We’ll juggle the lineup, stay positive and do a good job of preparing this week.”

, DataTimes