Seely’S Appetite For Soccer Helps Shadow Excel

His most meaningful pregame pledge is to play with passion.

Tim Seely doesn’t budge on this belief. He figures it’s the least he can do for the Spokane Shadow organization, his coach, the fans.

And for himself.

“If you’re going to play for a classy organization like the Spokane Shadow, you want to give back a classy performance,” said Seely, 25, who’s in his fourth Shadow season.

His effort was just that - classy, and clutch - in Saturday’s 4-3 must-win victory over the Abbotsford 86ers.

Seely took it upon himself to help Spokane reach this weekend’s Premier Development League Western Conference playoffs.

He assisted Bret Houck in the 12th minute to put the Shadow up 1-0. From about 36 yards out, Seely lofted a pretty free kick over the defense to Houck. And Seely’s early shots on goal put pressure on the Abbotsford defense right away.

With Saturday’s win, the Shadow earned a wild-card berth and the fourth seed into the playoffs Saturday and Sunday at Albi Stadium.

Spokane faces its Northwest Division rival, the top-seeded Yakima Reds, at 8 p.m. Saturday. The first semifinal is at 6 p.m., featuring the No. 2 Colorado Comets against the No. 3 San Fernando Valley Heroes.

With 12 new faces on the Shadow roster this season, Seely felt a responsibility to set an example and pick up his game. Yet it didn’t happen right away, because of injuries.

Despite missing most of the first month of the season with a bruised right foot and turf toe on his left big toe, Seely has become No. 2 on the team in assists, with eight.

“In the past we have had so many guys and everybody could turn around and look for other guys to do something,” said Shadow coach Stuart Saunders. “Now he realizes it’s his turn to step up and lead through his example and his play, and he’s been able to do that.”

It’s not hard for Seely to get himself ready to play.

While many of his Shadow teammates have their college or high school teams to return to, the Shadow is it for him.

“This is totally my outlet when it comes to playing soccer,” he said. “A lot of people look past (this opportunity) because it isn’t all they have. Some players don’t know the history of what’s happened in the past with this team.”

Fans recognize Seely’s enthusiasm for the game and his craving for competition. He performs with a unique flair.

Seely knows that flair could take him to a higher level if that’s what he wanted. But his life is in Spokane. He and his girlfriend of seven years, Cara, have a year-old daughter, Louise.

“I used to be completely soccer,” he said. “I had a one-track mind. I never cared what level it was - professional, PDL or backyard - I was always very competitive. With (Louise), soccer has taken the second road. I have to be there for my family.”

Yet Seely’s life remains surrounded by soccer. He watches European matches on television with his daughter - and her first word was ball. Seely has his own business that offers one-on-one soccer instruction as well as camps and clinics.

On top of that, the 1993 graduate of North Central coaches an under-17 Spokane Falcons boys club team.

Seely coaches his 16-year-old Sha dow teammate Pete Peterson of Central Valley on the Falcons. Peterson is one of the Shadow’s under-19 development players.

Peterson pays close attention to Seely on the field.

“He’s a really great coach and a great role model and example,” Peterson said. “About the game, he has taught me to be mentally strong and he has taught me a lot of skills.”

This sidebar appeared with the story:

COMING UP

Soccer playoffs

lWhen, where: Saturday and Sunday, Albi Stadium

Schedule: Semifinals at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, championship at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Matchups: Saturday’s first semifinal features the No. 2-seeded Colorado Comets (12-5-1, 56 points), the Rocky Mountain Division champion, against the Southwest Division champion and third-seeded San Fernando Valley Heroes (11-7-0, 56 points). The fourth-seeded Spokane Shadow (11-4-3, 54 points) earned a wild-card berth and will face the Northwest Division-champion Yakima Reds (12-5-1, 60 points) in the second semifinal.

At stake: The Western Conference champion advances to the PDL Final Four on Aug. 11-12 in Saginaw, Mich.

Players to watch Colorado - Midfielder Maher Kayali leads the team in scoring (13th in PDL) with 10 goals and 9 assists for 29 points.

San Fernando Valley - forward Arshak Abyanli was the PDL’s leading scorer with 17 goals and 15 assists for 49 points in 18 matches.

Spokane - Forward Zane Higgins (14 goals, 9 assists in 16 matches) is the organization’s all-time career leading scorer.

Yakima - The Reds are missing their top three scorers, all University of Washington players whose coach will not allow them to compete in the playoffs. Of the remaining players, forward Dayo Oyetuga is the leading scorer with 5 goals and 6 assists.

Quick kicks: This is the fifth straight year the Shadow will host postseason matches. … San Fernando Valley coach Arshavir Maleki was a member of the 1973 Iranian national team and played 14 years in Iran’s First Division with Ararat. … Colorado has not won a playoff game since 1990. … This will be the fifth meeting between Northwest Division rivals Spokane and Yakima. The Shadow are 2-1-1 in the season series.

Ticket information: Tournament packages are $15 for adults, $12 for youth. Call 326-GOAL.