Ferris Ends Its Quest With 4A Soccer Title

Ferris called it the end of an era, but perhaps it was the beginning of one for Eastern Washington.

The Saxons shook off a stale opening 20 minutes to defeat Sehome 3-1 in Saturday’s State 4A boys soccer championship match.

During postmatch celebrating at Evergreen High’s McKenzie Stadium, Ferris players and fans recalled the years this senior-laden team had been together, playing youth soccer.

But while their time has ended, it may have signaled a new dawn for soccer east of the Cascades. The previous 23 state champions had all been from the West Side.

Not that Ferris (18-5) hadn’t come close last year, during a frustrating 1-0 championship-match loss to Eastlake. The Eastlake goal in that match came when the ball deflected off Ferris defender Eric Blatt and settled in the net. So, it was apropos that Ferris defenders, including Blatt, had a big hand in Saturday’s win.

The match was tied at 1 early in the second half when junior Greg Dimeling, typically a defender but moved to outside half because of a bruised calf, scored on a header.

“I’m kind of out of shape,” said Dimeling, who had returned in Friday’s semifinal after a three-week layoff. “I can head, but that’s about all I can do.”

Sehome (16-2-1) barely had time to regroup when Ferris scored on another header, as Jake Gillen punched in Blatt’s throw-in.

The Saxons defense ruled the rest of the way. Ferris coach Robin Crain credited the Mariners with three shots on goal in the second half, but that number may have been high.

Crain agonized during the first half, as Sehome held Ferris without a shot on goal for the first 19-1/2 minutes. The Mariners led 1-0 on Whitney Zeller’s goal off Todd Coffman’s corner kick at 7:34.

“After they scored the first goal I said, ‘It’s not going to happen for us,”’ Crain said. “But (assistant) coach (Jeff) Rice said, “‘Don’t worry, we’re going to do it.”’

The momentum switched when forward Garth Cummings, one of Ferris’ seven senior starters, took a pass from senior Abbas Faridnia and started a breakaway. Cummings went one-on-one with a defender and punched the ball toward the middle of the net less than 5 minutes before halftime.

It was Ferris’ second shot on goal, but many more would come.

“Whenever Garth scores a goal, it’s such a thing of beauty that the other guys start to take it to another level,” Crain said.

Ferris started the year 1-3 and 2-4, losing several shootouts.

“I think we all had big heads from last year,” Cummings said. “We thought it would be easy for us to take (the GSL title), but it wasn’t.”

Cummings, Faridnia, Billy Sleeth, goalkeeper Tommy Servine and injured defender Thomas Ghezzi have played together for many years. Faridnia’s father, Manny, who had coached many of their youth teams, enjoyed the postmatch festivities as much as anyone.

The players said Crain prepared them for the match by diving in the mud and smashing a watermelon on his head. Crain wouldn’t confirm the story, although he said he had mud stuck in his ears.

Not enough mud, however, to block out the shouts as Ferris proclaimed its right to the championship trophy.

Sehome, which started 10 seniors, had allowed just 11 goals all year.

Curtis won the evening’s consolation match, 2-0 over Bellarmine Prep. Ferris defeated Curtis 4-2 on Friday.