Wilson stands out in victory

They say you can’t teach height.

It’s a lesson Cheney’s boys soccer team learned the hard way.

Kyle Wilson scored twice on headers off free kicks by Cameron Bushey – the second a controversial winner in the second overtime – as Mead scored an important 2-1 victory over the Blackhawks late Friday afternoon in a rough-and-tumble Greater Spokane League clash at Cheney.

It was a win Mead head coach Matt Stueckle believes will help the second-place Panthers (10-2, 10-1) as the postseason approaches.

“I think it was big,” said Stueckle, whose team is one point behind East Valley and tied with Ferris in the GSL standings. “Not only just to continue the winning, but just playing against a top-caliber team, and to get a win against a top-caliber team. … I think this is big because this gives us more momentum in the last few games and heading into the playoffs.”

Both teams started slowly, physical play superceding fluidity as neither got into a rhythm in the first half.

Wilson, a 6-foot-2 senior defender, opened the scoring in the 57th minute. Cheney (10-3, 8-2) was whistled for a foul in a seemingly innocuous position, about 5 yards into their defensive half of the field.

But Bushey sent a long, high ball into the box, where Wilson outjumped everyone and headed the ball just under the crossbar to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

“I always go up and the ball is usually floating in,” said Wilson. “It’s just a matter of me outjumping the guy next to me. That time I got in between two guys and was able to get it over the keeper.”

The goal seemed to spark the Blackhawks into action. Cheney coach Steve Davis moved the ever-dangerous Jesse Retan – whom Stueckle called the best dribbler in the GSL – from the right wing to forward.

“We were looking for combination plays out there,” Davis said. “We try a number of different combinations, and that’s one of them. (Retan) works well when he has a lot of space out there, and he also works well as a forward. … We changed it up a little bit.”

The move opened up Mead’s defense just a bit as the Blackhawks searched for an equalizer and had near-misses in the 61st, 62nd and 63rd minutes.

It was a long throw in from Ryan Chang that allowed Cheney to even things in the 66th minute. Wilson cleared a ball intended for Cheney forward Mitchell Weller, the GSL’s second-leading scorer who was held in check by the Panthers. Devin Merrill then headed Chang’s ensuing throw across his body and into the net to make it 1-all.

With the game’s physical nature earning the referee dirty looks from players, coaches and fans alike – Mead made claims for a penalty kick in both the 78th and 79th minutes – it was appropriate Wilson’s winner in the second overtime would be controversial.

Another Cheney foul just inside Mead’s offensive half of the field gave Bushey a chance to serve up another long ball. With Blackhawks goalie Josh Hooley charging out, Wilson jumped in front and got the slightest of touches with his head.

“I saw (Bushey) hit it short immediately,” Wilson said. “I knew the keeper was going to come out because he was yelling for it, and I knew if I got a little touch to the ball over his head again, it might create some problems.”

The ball changed direction just enough to slip past Hooley and bounce slowly toward the empty net. Cheney defender Adam Zakrezeski and Mead left wing Jason Hammer chased after the ball, Hammer holding off Zakrezeski just long enough to let the ball cross the goal line and prompting protests from Cheney players looking for a foul on Hammer.

But the goal stood, Mead got a crucial win, and Stueckle couldn’t be happier.

“If you look at each player,” the Mead coach said of Cheney, “they’re probably the most talented team in the league. We did well.”

“In other GSL action, Cole Abramson scored twice in regulation and once more in the shootout as first-place East Valley (10-1, 10-1) beat host Lewis and Clark (6-6, 6-5) 3-2 at Hart Field. … Taylor Yonago and Joe Hatcher each had a goal and an assist as Ferris (9-2, 9-2) won 6-0 at Clarkston (1-13, 1-10). … James Matern scored in regulation and in the shootout as North Central (11-3, 8-3) beat host Mt. Spokane (6-7, 5-6) 2-1. … Kyle Wirtz scored twice as Shadle Park (5-8, 4-7) earned a 3-0 win over visiting Rogers (1-12, 0-11). … Christian Holloway scored a pair of goals in the second half to give University (5-7, 5-6) a 2-1 win over host Central Valley (7-6, 6-5). … Scott Legel hit a penalty kick in the second half to lead Gonzaga Prep (4-8, 3-8) past visiting West Valley (4-9, 2-9) 2-1.