SNOHOMISH. A senior defender for the Panthers blocked a ball near the right sideline and kept it in play, setting up a decisive goal in a 1-0 victory for Snohomish over Everett at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Tuesday.
The Panthers improved to 8-4-1 overall and 8-1-0 in league play. The Seagulls fell to 5-7-0 overall and 4-4-0 in league competition.
In the 26th minute, a Snohomish senior got between the ball and the sideline, chesting it back toward the center of the field. A sophomore for the Panthers capitalized on the resulting confusion, splitting two defenders to reach the pass. She then placed a shot low into the far corner of the net for the match's only score.
The Panthers created additional scoring opportunities throughout the second half, but the Seagulls maintained a clean sheet for the remainder of the game.
The Panthers remain at the top of the Wesco North 3A/2A standings. The team has secured four consecutive victories following losses to Stanwood and Lake Stevens in late September. Since refocusing during practice, Snohomish has outscored opponents 17-3 during this stretch. The Panthers' head coach addressed the team's approach prior to kickoff, as the squad had just concluded senior night ceremonies.
"One of our core values is confidence, and just instilling that in our players," the coach said. "You can take people on, you can do hard things. You can advance up the field. I think we played a little hesitant tonight. We played safe in some ways, and then that just kind of can kill some energy. Then you're trying to rebound and regain strength from that. But coming into tonight, just trying to focus on our strengths and setting the tone for how we like to play soccer."
The Seagulls applied aggressive pressure early in the match. A Seagulls senior blocked a shot from a Panthers senior in the eighth minute. Two minutes later, a Seagulls sophomore collected a through ball and put a shot on goal. By closing passing lanes and utilizing hard tackles, the Seagulls restricted the Panthers' ability to move the ball upfield.
The Seagulls' season has been inconsistent. After starting 1-5, the team won four straight games to open October. Following consecutive losses to Monroe and Snohomish, the Seagulls are positioned in the middle of the Wesco North standings with four games remaining in the regular season. The team has been shut out in all seven of its losses but has recorded clean sheets in four of its five victories. Finding consistency is the primary focus for the final stretch of the season.
Everett coach Ryan Gamache believes the team has the talent to do something special, but they need to be more consistent.
The Seagulls were making plays to keep things competitive through the first 25 minutes. In addition to her block, Shelton cleared out a dangerous cross from Avalos in the 11th minute, and goalkeeper Auri Jones perfectly timed a save on Panthers senior Annie VanAssches free kick in the 23rd, clamping both fists together to punch it over the crossbar at the last second.
Once Snohomish jumped ahead with Pahres goal, the home side slowly built back control. With Avalos leading the attacking chances, the Panthers also snuffed out any Seagulls counters with a defensive adjustment that incorporated a sweeper limiting space along the sidelines. Sophomore Tenley Wolf broke up an attempted pass from the left corner out toward the top of the Snohomish box in the 33rd minute, and senior Jo Cort cleared out multiple crosses inside the final two minutes before the break.
In the very beginning, we started off strong, Cort said. We knew that we had to. This is a serious game, its our home turf, senior night. We wanted to start off strong. I think there was definitely times where we can dip down and up, but if we communicate loudly, (it) definitely elevates our game.
In the second half, the Panthers gradually tilted the field as their command over the game strengthened. Snohomish was inches away from extending the lead on multiple occasions, either firing just outside the post or challenging Jones to make an impressive save. Cort said the team is putting an emphasis on shooting more as the postseason approaches, and while it did not amount to additional goals on Tuesday, the intent was clear.
Anytime Everett managed to push play away from its own 18, Panthers goalkeeper Ella Beaver cleaned things up. The senior scooped the ball away from freshman Taylor Hansen before she could get a proper chance on net in the 55th minute, and she pulled in a last-chance chip inside the final two minutes to maintain the clean sheet.
Ella Beaver, I think, has done a great job for us, Dodge said. She does such a great job of reading those balls when we can play a higher defensive line, and she can come and fill that gap. Shes played with a lot of confidence and fills that role really well so that it doesnt give the other team this deep-ball advantage and tire out the back line from having to make run after run.
Snohomish plays its next three games on the road, including a potential league-deciding rematch against Stanwood on Oct. 20, before gearing up its effort to defend last years District 1 3A Championship. For the players, the focus lies in several simple areas.
More shots, Pahre said. Communicate loud to each other, and keep the energy high.