Allbery-Led Nc Ousts Mead From Postseason

High school soccer

He answers to the nickname “Dewey,” and Saturday afternoon, North Central High School’s Dustin Allbery could do no wrong.

Twice in the second half of a District 8-AAA boys soccer tournament match, the freshman midfielder fed his teammates precision passes, allowing the underdog Indians to eliminate 1996 State AAA runner-up Mead from the postseason 2-0.

After the teams played to a scoreless first half, NC banged in its first goal at the 50-minute mark when Allbery assisted Eric Johnson on a crossover corner kick.

Johnson, a junior, fed the ball over Mead goalkeeper Dave Szymarek’s head.

Ten minutes later, Bill Johnson, Eric’s freshman brother, outsmarted Szymarek after controlling a short pass from Allbery.

NC’s 2-0 lead held up as it moves into Tuesday’s state seeding match against GSL regular-season champion Ferris (16-0). The Indians (7-8) lost to the Saxons 7-0 earlier this year.

“We’ve beaten every team we lost to with the exception of Ferris,” said Indians first year coach Tim Cox.

Cox, formerly of St. George’s, replaced Ferris coach Robin Crain this year. His Indians began the season 0-5, but have since strung together consecutive shutouts against Gonzaga Prep, Shadle Park and Mead behind senior keeper Spencer Jewell.

In Saturday’s match, played at Mead Junior High School, Jewell saved three shots in the first half - two off corner kicks and another that narrowly missed the goal. In the team’s earlier matches this season, Mead (11-4-1) won 1-0 and 2-0.

“I think we came out and wanted to put it away real fast, real early,” Mead coach Craig Busch said. “We got frustrated with not being able to get that done.

“That frustration built and built and built until the halftime. We put so much energy into it that we were kind of spent.”

The Panthers played with four athletes nursing injuries. Their senior team captain, Kenneth Moulaison, watched from the sidelines in street clothes.

Moulaison was dismissed from the team earlier the month because he elected to go to his senior prom rather than play in a game against Rogers.

“I figured, I only have one prom and I can play soccer whenever I want,” said Moulaison, while watching his team fall behind 2-0.

Ferris and NC will play the top two teams from the Big Nine Conference. Eisenhower beat Pasco 3-0 Friday and plays at Moses Lake Tuesday for seeding purposes.

The winner will host the GSL’s No. 2 seed in the first round of the State AAA tournament May 17. The loser travels to GSL No. 1 on the same day.

North Central 2, Mead 0

SCORING: First half - none.

Second half - 2, NC E. Johnson (Allbery), 50:00. NC - B. Johnson (Allbery), 60:00.

Shots on goal - North Central 3, Mead 5. Saves - Mead, Szymarke 12. North Central, Jewell 12.

District 7-AA

West Valley 1, East Valley 0

Nick Young’s goal on a Quinn Sharpe assist at 64 minutes allowed the No. 4 Eagles to upset the No. 1 Knights at East Valley.

It was EV’s (12-1-2) first loss to a Fountier League team this season. WV (9-5-1) will travel to Cheney on Wednesday to determine State AA seeding.

SCORING: First half - none. Second half - 1, WV, Young (Sharpe), 64:00.

Shots on goal - West Valley 11, East Valley 16. Saves - West Valley, Kuntz, 9. East Valley, Escobar 8.

Cheney 1, Riverside/Deer Park 0

Also at East Valley, Ryan Waller scored on a header off a free kick from 30 yards out and Nick Reynolds added the assist to advance the No. 2 Blackhawks (13-1-1) into Wednesday’s district title game. No. 3 Riverside/Deer Park finished at 9-4-2.

SCORING: First half - 1, (Che) Waller (Reynolds) 29:00. Second half - None.

Shots on goal-Riverside 8, Cheney 6. Saves - Riverside Nelson 4, Cheney, Stitt 6.

, DataTimes