SNOHOMISH — A year ago the Glacier Peak boys soccer team was missing one of its primary offensive weapons heading into a showdown with undefeated Shorecrest at home.
The Grizzlies lost that battle, but went on to win the war in the form of the 3A state crown.
Monday night Glacier Peak
captured the first major battle of 2011 with a 3-1 triumph over the Scots, who were playing without captain Ian Adams.
The victory was the first ever for Glacier Peak (6-0 league, 8-0 overall) against the perennial power Scots (6-1, 7-1), which won the 2009 state title.
So, what does it mean?
“Everything,” senior Gregor Troost said. “It’s a great feeling.”
The Grizzlies were the more composed squad early and it showed as they controlled the action for much of the first half. Shorecrest was left scrambling to fill its midfield with one player getting lost on the way to the game and Adams already away in Italy where he was spending spring break with his club team, Crossfire Academy (For story, see Page D3).
“I know our guys were ready to play,” Glacier Peak coach Shannon Murray said. “Our guys were looking forward too it. Shorecrest is a great opponent. They are traditionally fantastic and they are the one team we didn’t beat last year.”
The Grizzlies opened the scoring in the 20th minute off a Kyle Bjornethun corner kick. The sophomore defender’s kick sailed long, but was collected by forward Shane Miller. The senior forward sent a cross in front of the net and Connor Skibeness blasted a waist-high laser shot into the back of it to give the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead.
In the 27th minute a booming free kick by goalie Andrew Weakly was nearly headed in but the ball slipped just wide of the frame. Three minutes later a foul just outside the box set up a Grizzlies free kick.
Troost nailed a shot off the bottom of the crossbar and in for a 2-0 Glacier Peak advantage.
“I don’t know what happened,” Troost said. “The confidence was there. We had a goal already.
“I just set up far post and tried to hit it as hard as I could. It worked out I guess.”
Shorecrest nearly got one back in the 38th minute. Forward Henry Wingo collected a through ball on the left side and dribbled unguarded to the goal with only Weakly to beat. The senior keeper charged the Scot freshman and laid out horizontally, stuffing Wingo’s shot and Shorecrest’s best chance of the half.
A quick clearance sent the ball to the opposite end of the field, where Shorecrest committed one if its many fouls. This one set up another Troost free kick. Once again, Troost crushed the set piece hard, this time it bounced off Shorecrest keeper Sam Schober’s hands and the crossbar into the waiting feet of Bjornethun who promptly made the score 3-0 in favor of the Grizzlies.
“That’s three set pieces (that lead to goals),” Murray said. “It shows you how important those are.”
The biggest surprise of the game may have been the way the Grizzlies defense had its way with the Scots vaunted attack, but the strong showing didn’t surprise Murray.
“If you were to ask me the trademark of this group, it’s defending,” Murray said.
A defensive lapse by Glacier Peak and a heads up play by Brennan Millea netted Shorecrest’s only goal of the game. The Scots sub slipped one past Weakly in the 72nd minute to make the game 3-1. Miles Yates came on in goal during the second half for the Scots and helped keep the Grizzlies scoreless after the break.
Shorecrest coach Drew Thompson gave credit to the Grizzlies but felt his team was better than the score indicated.
“They were sharp. (The Grizzlies) were crisp,” Thompson said. “We gave up mistakes in the back. We’ve got to do better and not give up those free kicks. Without that it’s a 1-1 game.”
After the historic win Murray didn’t want to make too much of it.
“We won round one,” he said. “That’s about it.”
Glacier Peak faces another stiff test Wednesday, hosting a Shorewood team that narrowly lost to Shorecrest 2-1 in its only league defeat.
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