Prep soccerz: Mt. Spokane tops Kennewick for 3A regional title
The Mt. Spokane boys soccer team showed a lot of character Tuesday night.
No surprise there: The Wildcats have been building character all season long, one loss at a time.
The payoff came Tuesday at Joe Albi Stadium, where Mt. Spokane held off Kennewick 2-1 to win the 3A regional title and make a little history in the process.
Two weeks ago, the young Wildcats were in last place in the Greater Spokane League. Now they’re the first boys soccer team in school history to win district and regionals in the same season. Up next is a first-round state playoff game next week in Spokane.
“This team has just come together – we’ve gone through a lot,” said senior midfielder Tanner McNamee, whose 25-yard blast gave Mt. Spokane a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute.
The goal was set up by Jake Morse, who found room on the left wing and crossed into the box. “I saw the goalkeeper was overextended,” McNamee. “I just tried to hit it to the back left and it went over his hands.”
Until then, the Wildcats (6-8) were on their heels against the crisp passing of the Lions, the runners-up in the rugged Mid-Columbia Conference.
But McNamee’s goal seemed to spark the Wildcats, who began to find open passing lanes in midfield. Mt. Spokane still led until the 54th minute, when Kennewick’s David Uribe sent a driving shot past Evan Kamerer.
Undaunted, the Wildcats – especially midfielders Morse and Tyler Smith – turned up the energy level. “You never know when the last game is going to be. You have to work your hardest, and working hard as a team is what we do best,” Morse said.
Sure enough, it was Morse who set up the winner. His cross in the 65th minute found freshman Mikyas Noble, who collected the ball and found the net from 20 yards out.
Despite earning eight corner kicks to none for the Wildcats, Kennewick shot wildly in the second half and didn’t seriously threaten late in the match.
When it was over, Mt. Spokane coach Ryan Campanella savored the moment. “I just want to give credit to the boys, and the fact that we’ve had the best attitudes we’ve had in my 10 years at Mt. Spokane.”
Kennewick will play Saturday for a state berth against Kamiakin, which defeated North Central 5-0 at Spokane Falls Community College. NC finished 4-11.
District 7 2A: Pullman was one shootout kick better than Cheney, defeating the Blackhawks 1-0 to win the District 7 title. The Greyhounds made three penalty kicks to two for Cheney. Keeper Will Pitzer had two key stops.
The win puts Pullman at home for a regional match on Saturday against a team from District 5/6, while Cheney will travel.
District 7 1A: Medical Lake shut out Newport 1-0, while Colville defeated Lakeside by the same score in a penalty-kick shootout to advance to the district final Thursday night at Gonzaga Prep.