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Boys soccer notebook: Ferris hosts Central Valley in key Greater Spokane League match

Central Valley High soccer coach Andres Monrroy is seen in 2015 during a boys soccer practice at the school. Monrroy has developed the CV boys and girls soccer programs into state powers. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
By Jim Allen jima@spokesman.com
Central Valley High soccer coach Andres Monrroy is seen in 2015 during a boys soccer practice at the school. Monrroy has developed the CV boys and girls soccer programs into state powers. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)

Along with the weather, the Greater Spokane League boys soccer race may be clearing up.

Then again, Ferris might just cloud the outlook if the Saxons can knock off visiting Central Valley on Wednesday.

Both teams are 5-0 in GSL play after the Bears emerged with a 2-1 shootout win over Lewis and Clark, in a game that was rescheduled for Albi Stadium because of poor field conditions at CV.

Perhaps the Bears will have an emotional letdown, but Ferris coach Robin Crain isn’t counting on it.

“It’s an advantage for us to play at home, but the matchups will be key,” said Crain, whose team is 6-4 overall with wins in five of its last six matches.

“They (CV) have a tremendous amount of skill, so we’re going to have to play as a team,” Crain said.

Kickoff is at 5 p.m.

The Saxons are coming off back-to-back shutout wins over Rogers (4-0) and North Central (3-0). Freshman goalkeeper Jadon Bowton earned both clean sheets while Max Thompson scored twice in each match.

“He’s just a tremendous athlete,” Crain said of Thompson, who also plays football and basketball for the Saxons and didn’t play club soccer in the offseason.

“We’ve got quite a few guys who don’t play club soccer, and it takes them a while to get into to flow of the game, but he’s starting to feel comfortable and play really well,” Crain said.

A Ferris win would set up a dramatic finish to the GSL race, as the Saxons face LC in the regular-season finale on April 28.

A CV victory would leave the Bears alone in first place with tiebreaking wins over their two closest pursuers.

Teams cope with wet weather

Along with the rest of the GSL, Ferris and CV have coped with soggy fields from this winter’s record rainfall.

“The kids have been great, really resilient,” said Crain, whose practice field shrank to 20 by 40 yards because of the rain. “It’s not much different from being indoors.”

CV coach Andres Monrroy employed a little tough love with the Bears.

“I told them that you have to adapt to the conditions. The professionals do it all the time,” said Monrroy, likening the hardship to the U.S. national team playing at altitude in Mexico City.

“We’re doing a great job of adapting,” Monrroy said.