Panthers Prevail Mead Stuns Ferris 2-0 By Stacking Defense
Prep soccer
It’s not often the 8-2 formation is heard of in soccer.
Eight defenders, two forwards.
But the Mead boys soccer team made it work Saturday in its 2-0 victory over Ferris in a State 4A quarterfinal at Albi Stadium.
The Panthers had to do something to slow down the Saxons’ speedy forwards and skilled midfielders, said coach Travis Hanson.
Mead had lost to Ferris 5-0 for the District 8 title May 9 at Albi and also during the Greater Spokane League season.
“Not only had they not seen our best soccer, they hadn’t seen the soccer we played today,” Hanson said of the defensive-oriented counter-attack scheme. “I’m proud of the kids. Every kid played his role in this system.”
The Panthers (15-4) move on to the state semifinals Friday at Kiggins Bowl in Vancouver against Port Angeles, a 2-0 winner over Decatur on Saturday.
Mead was last in the state playoffs when it placed second in 1996. The Panthers came back from a 2-0 deficit to upset defending state champion Pasco 3-2 in a shootout last weekend.
They scored both their goals in the second half Saturday.
Senior Matt Folsom booted the game-winner at 67 minutes off a pass from Elliott Fauske. Fauske beat a defender on the left side and crossed to a charging Folsom, who kicked the ball into the left corner of the net from 17 yards out.
At 77 minutes, a Folsom free kick rebounded off Ferris goalie Jeremy Wang to Fauske and he knocked it in from close range for the Panthers’ other goal.
“The last few times we played Ferris we were scared and didn’t play as a team,” Folsom said. “Today every player gave everything they had, and that’s what it took.”
Ferris had an 11-9 edge in shots but couldn’t finish. Panthers junior goalie Brian Beu had another clutch game with six saves.
“We knew if we got them off their game plan they couldn’t keep up with us,” said Mead sweeper Danny Dolan. “People didn’t think we were good enough to beat them. The only way we were going to gain respect was by beating them.”
Ferris (16-3) had hoped to match the 1998 Saxons team that won state.
“We were so close,” said senior Justin Benfield. “I thought we’d go all the way. We definitely had the talent. They just wanted it more I guess. We have a lot of seniors, too, so that’s it.”
State 2A
Riverside soccer coach Kevin Moon is always talking about feeling “cautiously optimistic.”
It’s how he felt before Saturday’s State 2A quarterfinal match against defending state champion East Valley of Yakima at Riverside.
The Rams, who had lost to the Red Devils in the state semifinals last year, dominated the first half and held on for a 2-1 victory to move into the semifinals Friday at Kiggins Bowl in Vancouver. They will face South Whidbey, which edged Washougal 2-1.
“It was absolutely huge, so emotional,” Moon said of the win. “My guys are good, but we have this thing that we won’t take anyone for granted. We won’t look past any game, even if we’ve beaten a team 10-0. When you get cocky, things can happen.”
Senior B.J. Ostby scored both Riverside goals. The first, at 30 minutes, was a header from 16 yards out off a long throw-in by Wink Hodgson.
Ostby scored again just after halftime on a penalty kick. On the kickoff, Jake Moug dribbled through five players before being taken down in the box.
EV sophomore Juan Arias scored his team’s only goal at 52 minutes and it was the first against the Rams (16-0-2) in the playoffs.
The Red Devils (13-5-2) had a chance to tie on a penalty kick with 10 minutes left, but Arias missed off the left post. He had been taken down by Rams goalie Logan Krohn.