Ferris advances
OT goal sends Saxons to semis
PASCO – Junior forward Isaac Peter scored the game’s only goal in overtime as Ferris beat Pasco 1-0 on Saturday in a State 4A soccer quarterfinal at Edgar Brown Stadium.
The Saxons (13-6-1) will make their first trip to the 4A semifinals since 2001, when they finished second. Ferris had previously advanced to the final four three times (1997-98, 2001) and reached the championship game each time, winning the state title in 1998.
“We’re the only GSL team to win a state title, but that was a long time ago,” said coach Robin Crain, who began coaching the Saxons in 1997. “This group is pretty special.
“It’s great when good things happen to nice guys.”
Pasco played the entire second half down a player after senior forward Gerardo Camargo was red-carded after throwing an elbow just before the end of the first half.
Despite the disadvantage in a scoreless match, Pasco held its ground, outshooting the Saxons 9-2 in the second half.
“The first half was real even,” Crain said. “The second half they locked us in our own zone. They almost played better with 10 men.”
Three minutes into overtime, Ferris midfielder Alec Cutter found Peter with a pass in stride down the right wing, and Peter tapped it to the far corner past Bulldogs goalie Emmanuel Martinez for the game-winner.
Pasco outshot Ferris 17-10 during the game and had several near misses, the biggest being a penalty kick from senior midfielder Martin Ramirez in the 30th minute. The Bulldogs got three chances to put it away but missed them all.
Ramirez took the kick after Ezequiel Angeles was tripped in the Saxons’ penalty box by Ferris defender Sam Butler. Ramirez faced off with goalkeeper Nick Stebbins and hit the shot well, but his shot banged off the right post and back into play. Richard Renteria got the rebound and fired off the crossbar but, again, the ball bounced back into play. Derek Zimmerman sent a third shot a few feet above the crossbar to end the threat.
Ferris will play Stadium, a 2-0 winner Saturday over Marysville-Pilchuck, on Friday at 6 p.m. at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood, Wash., in the state semifinals.