Ferris outlasts Mead for soccer title

Ferris and Mead crammed a season’s worth of thrills into one half of their District 8 4A championship soccer match Wednesday at Spokane Falls Community College, won 2-1 by the Saxons.

There was a ricochet goal and a third-effort score by Ferris in the first 20 minutes of the second half. There was also a score on an open goal by Mead when fearless Saxons goalie D.J. Bray tried to corral a loose ball.

The outcome was in doubt until Bray, the Ferris junior, got the final punchout of a Panthers shot as time ran out.

“They were putting a lot of balls in the box, crosses and throw-ins,” said Bray, who was all over the 18-yard box. “Mead’s good at directing the ball to the back of the far post.”

The victory qualified Ferris to state and a seeding match Tuesday against Big Nine champion Kamiakin in Spokane at a site to be determined.

Mead will host Central Valley, a 3-0 winner over Lewis and Clark in the loser-out opener at SFCC, 5 p.m. Friday at Whitworth College for a chance at the eastern regional’s third state entrant. Winner travels against Big Nine No. 2 Pasco or Eastmont.

Ferris and Mead spent a futile first half battling wind and each other’s defenses. Mead’s Chris Windham had the one opportunity of the half, but his shot hit the upright 17 minutes in.

The wind died and Ferris attacked during the first 20 minutes of the second half.

Taylor Yonago took a long pass from Trevor Crain and scored when his shot struck the near upright on the right side of the field and ricocheted by Mead goalie Jason Gass.

Five minutes later, Yonago took a pass off his chest for a shot that deflected to Ian Anderson, whose attempt was deflected to the right where Connor Hennessey arrived to make it 2-0.

“When we went down two goals,” said Mead coach Matt Stueckle, “we couldn’t stay in our 4-4-2. I took a defender out, threw another guy up front and it seemed to work.”

Over the final 20 minutes, Mead dominated the attack with long, crossing shots that spread the defense. Its goal came when Bray sprawled to chase down a ball to his right of the net, but Jason Hammer beat him and crossed it to Morgan DeShazo, who had clear sailing.

Central Valley 3, Lewis and Clark 0: Jay Vela scored a hat trick and the Bears defense limited Tigers opportunities in continuing their playoff march with a second win in loser-out competition.