Class 4A boys soccer: Championship caps unbeaten soccer season for Bellarmine

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CAMAS — To opponents, the Bellarmine Prep boys soccer team's defense must look like the Redwood Forest.

Tall. Imposing. Impenetrable.

Juanita cracked the Bellarmine Prep trees once, but it proved too little, too late as the Lions preserved a 2-1 victory in the Class 4A state-championship match last night at Doc Harris Stadium.

Lions senior goalkeeper Ian Cull made eight critical moves as his team built a 2-0 lead, and ultimately allowed Bellarmine Prep (20-0-2) to finish the season undefeated.

"I had no doubts, because of our defense," Bellarmine Prep senior forward Adam West, who scored the Tacoma school's second goal for a 2-0 cushion with 11 minutes left in regulation. "Our defense has been solid. Those guys are built like trees back there.

"They're just solid. We're the biggest team in the state. You can't get by those guys."

Bellarmine Prep, ranked No. 4 nationally in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and No. 1 in the West Region, secured the school's first state title in boys soccer. The Lions reached the 1993 title match only to fall to Mountain View 1-0.

Juanita (13-5-4), ranked No. 6 in the NSCAA West Region, showed well in its first championship-match appearance and the school's first trip to state.

"Their keeper just came up with some great saves," Juanita coach Nate Whitney said. "You have to tip your hats to those boys over there. They are true champions. Even though we got down two goals, we didn't quit.

"That's this team's heart and guts."

Bellarmine Prep sophomore Chase Tangney scored on a header over the top of Juanita goalkeeper Jesse Sutherland and inside the near post in the 37th minute to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. Tangney headed the ball over a drawn-out Sutherland after Matt Brooke sent a long pass to Tangney's head from the opposite side of the field.

West tallied his team-best 17th goal of the season for a 2-0 Lions' lead in the 69th minute. West followed John Power's header on goal with a left-footed rebound shot after Sutherland came out on Power and left Juanita defender Brian Ackerson defenseless in goal.

"(Juanita) had the first half, I felt, and we came out blazing in the second," said West after his team led 1-0 at intermission.

Juanita sophomore Scott Rychard scored on a header in the 71st minute, converting a 10-yard shot from straightaway on a cross from Milijan Stijacic.

The Rebels lose 13 seniors, including eight starters.

Snohomish 2, Lewis & Clark (Spokane) 1 (3rd-4th places) — Justin Abel scored the winning goal in the first half and sophomore Brandon Crutchfield added two assists for the Panthers (17-2-2).

Snohomish, which reached the semifinals for the fourth time in six years, followed last year's second-place finish and sent off seven seniors in winning fashion. The Panthers outscored foes 99-13 this season.

"I'm so proud of these guys, because it's so hard to stay at the top," said Snohomish coach Dan Pingrey, who guided the 2000 Panthers to a state title. "There are very few dynasties around. With good kids and more schools, it gets harder and harder.

"So we've done well. We've accomplished a lot."

Pingrey inserted five freshman into the contest and they all helped preserve the one-goal lead over the final 15 minutes.

"That's how we learn," Pingrey said. "They get a taste of it. I want them to step up and want it. It's not just varsity with us. It's a program. Our goal every year is to win WesCo and win state.

"Every year with this group, it's a realistic goal. If not, we'll re-evaluate."

Abel broke a 1-1 tie with a 12-yard blast into the upper right corner of the net off a nice cross from Crutchfield, whose second assist of the match gave him a team-best 16 for the season. It was Abel's 10th tally of the season.

Seth Wilson put Snohomish up 1-0 with a lunging strike at the right post off a beautiful left-to-right cross from Crutchfield in the ninth minute. It was UNLV-bound Wilson's team-high 25th goal of the season.

C.J. Moe scored for Lewis & Clark in the 10th minute. The 2003 Greater Spokane League scoring leader, who will play for Gonzaga next fall, notched his 20th goal of the season.

Moe exited the contest with a left leg injury after a hard tackle from the Panthers' Jordan Dettmer.

Note

• Three of the state boys soccer tournaments — Class 4A, 3A and 2A — will shift to Sunset Stadium at Sumner High School in the spring of 2005 and 2006. A two-year contract has been awarded to Sumner to host the event with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association in January, according to WIAA assistant executive director Jim Meyerhoff. The tournament has been in Camas the past two seasons.