EVERETT — The Archbishop Murphy soccer team suffered its first loss of the season in the district championship game last weekend and was eager to get back on the field and show its next opponent what it could do.
And the R.A. Long Lumberjacks just happened to be that next opponent, who found themselves up against a team ready to regain its winning ways.
The Wildcats did just that with a big 8-0 win over R.A. Long in the first round of the 2A state tournament Wednesday night in a game at Archbishop Murphy High School. Brady Henderson started the scoring for the Wildcats in the 20th minute and they didn’t let up until the end — with Archbishop Murphy adding two more goals in the final two minutes to bring its total to eight for the night.
The Wildcats move on to face Liberty (Issaquah) in a 2A state quarterfinal game at 7 p.m. Friday at Liberty High School.
“I wasn’t happy when it actually happened, but now I’m glad that we can see how the team reacts after a loss like that and how we can recover with such great form,” said Henderson, who netted two goals in the game. “I’m glad we got our loss out of the way early and were able to fix some things in practice. And I’m glad we got to come out and show what we were made of.”
The junior dribbled around the R.A. Long defense and sent a shot into the goal to start what would turn out to be a very successful night for the Archbishop Murphy offense.
“Part of it is that’s what he does, but the big part of that goal was it got us started,” said Wildcats head coach Mike Bartley. “It got the whole game started. That’s kind of what Brady’s job is. He’s the engine, the catalyst. He saw the opportunity and took it and gave us some momentum to get going.”
Archbishop Murphy added two goals late in the first half to expand its lead. Isaac Feeney launched a shot the bounced off an R.A. Long defender and into the goal in the 38th minute.
Seconds later, Archbishop Murphy stole the ball after the ensuing kickoff and dribbled down before a penalty kick was awarded after an illegal slide tackle in the goalkeeper’s box. Diego Rios sent the penalty kick past Lumberjacks goalkeeper Jesus Radillo to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead right before halftime and all of the game’s momentum.
“That was part of our goals, to make sure we get the third goal because then you can change momentum of a whole game,” Bartley said. “At 2-0, if they get one they can equalize and all of a sudden it shifts, so we wanted to make sure we got the third one. Getting both of those was critical to make sure we can lock the game away.”
The second half was much of the same. Archbishop Murphy had another scoring outburst in the 65th minute with Henderson’s second goal of the game and another score by Jensen Crisler in the 67th minute. Matt Williams assisted both scores.
Tyler Winsor added a rocket in the 72nd minute and Feeney and Jordan Smith each added a goal in the final two minutes of the game to clinch the big win for the Wildcats.
“It’s pretty hot out here and I think they were starting to tire a little bit and then I bring a bunch of subs in who are ready to play and want to run so I think that was more of it,” Bartley said. “Our whole game is about pressing. We want to press the ball at all times and work really hard. To continue that through a whole game is pretty hard so you have to have the depth to do it. I’m very proud of my (team).”
The loss ended the season for R.A. Long (9-9-2 overall), out of the Greater St. Helens League, which was the District 4 No. 3 seed.
Archbishop Murphy (18-1-1) will take on Liberty, which plays in the KingCo 3A/2A league. The Patriots are 9-6-2 after defeating Anacortes 3-2 on penalty kicks in their state opener on Tuesday.
“They have three forwards that can attack, they have a very good defense, their holding midfielders are big and strong — it’s going to be interesting,” said Bartley, who watched Liberty’s game against Anacortes. “It’s going to be a chess match I think. It’s going to be how we counter against their defense and how we defend against their forwards. It’s going to be a great matchup.”
Archbishop Murphy junior Parker Buchanan says the Wildcats take the playoffs, “game-by-game,” but quickly added Archbishop Murphy has high expectations for the rest of its season.
“In practice we go harder and harder everyday,” Buchanan said. “We expect to get to the final four and we work our — we work really hard in practice.”
At Archbishop Murphy H.S.
Goals—Brady Henderson (AM) 2, Isaac Feeney (AM) 2, Diego Rios (AM), Jensen Crisler (AM), Tyler Winsor (AM), Jordan Smith (AM). Assists–Matt Williams (AM) 2, Chase Whittaker (AM). Goalkeepers—R.A. Long: Jesus Radillo. Archbishop Murphy: Ryan Henderson, Trevor Johnston. Records—R. A. Long 9-9-2. Archbishop Murphy 18-1-1.
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