In what was a physical game from start to finish, Squalicum boys soccer held off crosstown rival Sehome 2-0 in Northwest Conference action Monday at Sehome High School.
The defending 2A state champion Storm focused on team defense and playing as a unit to win their eighth straight game and remain unbeaten on the season.
“Sehome did a good job in the first half,” Squalicum coach Joe McAuliffe said. “They did some things that brought us out of what we typically do.”
Within five minutes of the start of the game, Squalicum senior midfielder Xander Koenig put the Storm up for good with a goal to make it 1-0.
A yellow card for a flagrant foul issued against Squalicum senior Kylar Carr — and two corner kicks late in the first half — gave the Mariners a chance to advance toward their first goal.
However, a quick save by Storm senior goalie Rangi Powar blocked Sehome forward Gilberto Andrews’ shot from connecting inside the net.
With less than a minute left in the first half, a collision between Sehome forward Diego Villa Sanchez and Squalicum right back Collin Tepker prevented Tepker from notching another goal for the Storm.
Powar started the second half with another impressive save against a shot on goal by Sehome’s Owen Berreth. Within five minutes of the second half, Powar made another crucial save to stifle the Mariners’ offense.
Skillful footwork and one-on-one play by Storm sophomore Sebastian Cruz Gonzalez against Mariner goalie Kinoah Mitchell gave the Storm their second goal of the evening to go up 2-0.
A pair of yellow cards issued against Sehome gave the Storm several more chances to increase their lead, but Sehome’s strong defensive plays held them off.
Although McAuliffe felt his team started the first half a little off, he was pleased they were able to make adjustments to start the second half.
“By half time we made the adjustments we needed to make,” added McAuliffe. “I told my players, let’s go back to what Storm soccer is.”
With Squalicum losing a bevy of key players and returning just three starters from last year’s team, one of which is currently on crutches, McAuliffe was proud of how his team responded.
“We have a brand-new mix this year,” McAuliffe said. “We lost a lot of backline players, but the players are connected. They hold each other accountable.”
Powar, whose saves helped counter Sehome’s scoring attempts, said the Storm were the real underdogs.
“We came into the game with people doubting us,” said Powar. “Sehome is a good, strong team but we proved tonight that we’re here. We can win it all and we will.”
Squalicum (10-0-3, 6-0-1 NWC) will host Sedro-Wolley (0-4, 2-7 NWC) at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 27.
Sehome (7-3-2, 4-3-1 NWC) heads to Burlington-Edison (3-3, 6-5 NWC) at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 29.
