Captains Know Postseason Drill Riverside Pair Dedicated Selves To Reaching State Soccer Tourney

Sam Fleetwood was in the running for the Great Northern League’s soccer defensive MVP honor.

But the distinction went to his Riverside High teammate and close friend, Jason Remington.

“I thought he was going to get it,” said Remington, a midfielder who was MVP last year, too. “Especially the way he played in the two Pullman games.”

“I’m glad he got it,” said Fleetwood, who plays sweeper. “He deserved it.”

It doesn’t matter much to Rams coach Kevin Moon.

He is counting on both senior captains to lead Riverside (15-3-1) against East Valley-Yakima (15-4-1) in Friday’s 7 p.m. State 2A semifinal match at Selah High School.

If the Rams win, they will play for the state title at 2:30 p.m. Saturday against the winner of Friday’s first semifinal between Ridgefield and Steilacoom. The third-fourth match is at noon Saturday.

“They’re two mature and stable kids and our success has a lot to do with how they play,” Moon said of Fleetwood and Remington.

The two began playing soccer together in eighth grade, after Fleetwood transferred from Deer Park. Both have been on varsity since they were freshmen.

And both had a plan for their senior year in soccer. As soon as last season ended with a shootout loss in the district title match to eventual state champion Pullman, the Rams were looking toward 1999, Fleetwood said. He said they knew a state berth was within reach.

Riverside’s players practiced through the summer. They competed all fall. Remington’s father, Rollie, coached the team to victory in a fall select league.

Fleetwood and Remington said they had to set an example of hard work. They learned about leadership from the captains before them.

“We know what it takes in the postseason and how much more intense it is,” said the 6-foot, 165-pound Remington, 18.

“We’re the only ones who have played this long at this level,” added Fleetwood.

The 5-9, 150-pound Fleetwood played in the midfield with Remington until the end of last season when he moved to sweeper.

“It was kind of new for me playing sweeper and not scoring goals,” said Fleetwood, 18, who plans to play on Gonzaga University’s new junior varsity team in the fall. “I was used to being involved in the offense. Now I’m starting the offense from the back.”

Moon has appreciated their versatility. He still swaps the two players on the field occasionally depending on the opponent.

“We needed someone to stabilize our backfield,” Moon said in explaining the Fleetwood move. “He does whatever he can for the team. He gave up a lot of glory.”

Still, Fleetwood earned second-team all-league honors.

Sophomore forward Jake Moug, the team’s leading scorer with 33 goals, said Fleetwood and Remington will be missed. Remington said he will try out for the Community Colleges of Spokane team this fall.

“They’re the anchor of our team,” he said. “Without them, we wouldn’t be where we are.”