EDMONDS — It could have been quality defense, solid goalkeeping, or maybe even a touch of good fortune. And it didn’t matter whether it was during the run of play or during penalty kicks. But for whatever reason, the ball was not going to go in the Glacier Peak net Saturday night.
The Glacier Peak Grizzlies somehow kept a clean sheet as they claimed the 3A District 1 boys soccer championship by beating the Edmonds-Woodway Warriors 1-0 on penalty kicks at Edmonds Stadium.
“The boys have been working hard all year long,” Glacier Peak coach Kyle Veach said. “Going to state was the biggest goal, but the district championship is huge. To be able to go in with the top spot out of Wesco is a huge honor. The boys earned it, they get to celebrate, then we’ll get ready for our next opponent.”
Edmonds-Woodway had the better scoring chances during regulation, but the ball stayed out of the net as the game remained scoreless through regulation and two overtimes. Then in the penalty shootout the ball continued to elude Glacier Peak’s net, the Grizzlies prevailing 4-2 when twice the Warriors were unable to convert.
“This feels great,” said Glacier Peak senior tri-captain Spencer Pettit, who scored the penalty kick that ended the game. “We (won the district title) sophomore year and should have done it last year. But doing it with this great group of guys is second to none.”
The Grizzlies (15-3-1), who were the tournament’s top seed, advanced to play host to the District 2 No. 4 seed in the first round of the state tournament. The date and location of the game were still to be determined.
Edmonds Woodway (12-4-3), the tournament’s third seed, will hit the road for the first round of state. The Warriors will play a road game against the District 2 No. 2 seed in the first round, with the date and location also yet to be determined.
“We felt we played probably our best total game to date,” Edmonds-Woodway coach Tony Gilman said. “We always talk about not playing just one half, but playing both halves. We just needed to put the ball in the back of the net.”
The Warriors were left wondering what could have been. Edmonds-Woodway, inspired by senior midfielder Jose Aleman, had the better scoring chances throughout regulation, particularly during the second half when on multiple occasions it appeared easier for the Warriors to score than to miss. But somehow the ball stayed out of the net.
“Maybe Lady Luck was on our side, because we definitely should have lost that game with some of their opportunities,” Veach said. “But this is a resilient team. We haven’t lost to a 3A team year — our losses are to 2A Shorecrest and 4A Skyline and Snohomish. Every time our back has been against the wall, wide open net or not, we’ve won. There’s a belief, and belief is a scary thing for the opponent.
“When we played Woodway during the regular season (a 2-2 tie) it was by far our best contest, and it was again tonight,” Veach added. “I think if anything both teams got better.”
The first half saw Glacier Peak have some nice stretches of possession, but Edmonds-Woodway crafted the better scoring chances on the counterattack. Aleman looked particularly dangerous for the Warriors driving through the right side of midfield, on one occasion forcing a sprawling save from Grizzlies goalkeeper Sahm Noorfeshan. Then Glacier Peak’s Miles Johnston had to make a last-ditch tackle on Ethan Hopkins to prevent Hopkins going free on goal as it remained scoreless going into the second half.
The action heated up in the second half, with both teams having good chances. Once again it was Aleman who was at the center of the most dangerous moments. Twice he worked his way free for a shot that Noorfeshan could only parry into the path of Warrior players following up. But both times the Edmonds-Woodway player was unable to make good contact on the ball with the Glacier Peak net gaping. Then late in the half Aleman beat his man down the left and centered a ball for Hopkins, but Hopkins’ shot went wide as the Grizzlies survived to see overtime.
Then in OT it was the Grizzlies who pressured, but couldn’t score. Glacier Peak forced a series of corner kicks, on one of which Edmonds-Woodway defender Cameron Cohn headed the ball off the goal line, then goalkeeper Griffin Small made a good save to deny Alex Bergstrom at the post on the follow-up chance.
In the shootout, the Warriors put their first chance wide, then Noorfeshan saved the second, giving Glacier Peak a cushion. The Grizzlies converted all four of their chances, despite Small getting his fingertips to two of the shots, to claim the title.
At Edmonds Stadium
Goalkeepers—Edmonds-Woodway: Griffin Small. Glacier Peak: Sahm Noorfeshan. Records—Edmonds-Woodway 12-4-3. Glacier Peak 15-3-1.
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