Mead soccer savors big win over Central Valley in competitive GSL

Sometimes you just have to savor the moment.

After his Mead soccer team knocked off first-place Central Valley on Friday, coach Kevin Houston wasn’t ready to look ahead.

“It was one of those mentally exhausting games for myself as a coach, and physically had to work so hard,” Houston reflected on a 2-1 win that’s one of the Panthers’ biggest in several years.

“I just wanted them to enjoy it – they deserved it,” said Houston, whose team is 4-1 in the GSL and 6-5 overall.

The game also created a virtual five-way tie atop the Greater Spokane League with four matches left, which means it’s time to look forward. First up for the Panthers is a Wednesday home match against Gonzaga Prep (4-1 GSL, 8-2 overall).

“This is a big week,” said Houston, whose Panthers are at Lewis and Clark (4-1, 9-1) on Friday. “I feel that if we can go out and compete the way we did last week, we’ll be in very good shape.”

Houston said the Panthers are getting the most out of four seniors who’ve been with the program since they were freshman. That includes defenders Dominic Welch and Koby Wilburn and midfielders Hayden DelPizzo and Michael McLeod.

After missing out on the postseason last year, Houston said the returning seniors set the tone this spring. “It all started with those seniors and what they wanted from the season and where we wanted to go from that,” said Houston, who said he’s also getting big contributions from senior outside fullbacks Hayden Jones and Conner Hawkes.

Much of the scoring punch is coming from junior midfield Peter Weller, who scored both goals against CV. Two days earlier, Weller had a goal and an assist in a 3-2 win over Mt. Spokane.

Prep is coming off shutout wins over Rogers and Mt. Spokane following a 1-0 loss at Ferris before spring break. Meanwhile, CV (4-1, 7-2) faces rival U-Hi (1-4, 3-7) on Wednesday before finishing the regular season against three other contenders.

On paper, Ferris has the easiest path to a high finish. In their last four matches, the Saxons (4-1, 6-2) face only one team with a winning record.

Big week in the GNL

Thanks to East Valley’s 1-0 win over Pullman last weekend, the Knights and Greyhounds are tied atop the Great Northern League at 6-2.

West Valley is just a game behind going into Tuesday’s match at Pullman.