Ferris takes on Camas in quarters

Revenge can be a motivator, no matter how misplaced.

A year ago, the Ferris boys soccer team was ousted from the State 4A playoffs after a 3-1 quarterfinal loss at Union of Vancouver.

“And we want some revenge,” Saxons forward Terry Cox said of today’s 1 p.m. quarterfinal, which will be contested a few miles upriver at Camas.

Close enough.

“We’ve been there, I guess,” Ferris coach Robin Crain said after the Saxons dispatched Cascade of Everett on Wednesday to advance to the quarters for the second straight year.

Ferris (16-2) is the only Spokane-area team still alive in the postseason, but is making a serious run for a spot in next week’s semifinals in Puyallup. The Saxons have won six of their last seven matches, giving up just two goals along the way.

On Wednesday, the Saxons had it all their own way against a Cascade team that had traveled across the state and had to play on an unfamiliar surface: grass. Now it’s the Saxons’ turn to hit the road and change shoes for today’s match on the artificial surface at Doc Harris Stadium in Camas.

That won’t be a problem – the Saxons have played matches this year at Albi Stadium and Spokane Falls Community College – but Camas figures to offer a stern test.

The Papermakers (16-1-3) cut their way through the Greater St. Helen’s League with nine wins and a tie, then lost the district title match to Skyview of Vancouver. In the District 3/4 playoffs, Camas shut out Todd Beamer 3-0 and Federal Way 2-0 to reach state.

On Tuesday, the Papermakers overcame a long road trip and stifling heat to edge Moses Lake 3-2 and set up today’s quarterfinal.