Shorecrest remains perfect with 2-0 soccer win over Kamiak

 By Mark M. Faller

Photos by Wilson Tsoi

On a cold, wet and windy night, Shorecrest (8-0 league, 15-0-0 overall) continued its dominance of Wesco South soccer with a 2-0 win over Kamiak (4-4 league, 7-6-2 overall) to remain undefeated on the season as they continue to roll over, and through, their opponents.

Left: Kamiak junior defender Sean Wagner-McGough (#16) and Felyx Tsoi (#2) defending a Shorecrest air attack . (#3 Morgan West).  Ranked third in the nation, Shorecrest remains undefeated this season with a 2-0 victory over Kamiak.

Shorecrest got goals from Glenn Paden, Wesco's top goal scorer, in each half to secure the victory over Kamiak.

After several early opportunities were thwarted by the stellar play of Kamiak senior goalkeeper Caleb Smith, Shorecrest got on the board in the 27th minute when Paden chased down a searching ball sent down the right flank. Paden and Kamiak sophomore defender Ben Holman arrived at the same time, both slide tackling the ball. Paden won the challenge, arose and then beat two Kamiak defenders before driving the ball from a sharp angle just over the left shoulder of Smith and into the side netting at far post. The unassisted goal was his 18th on the season.

Right: Shorecrest junior forward Glenn Paden (#20) gains control of the ball over Kamiak senior defender Kyle Watts (#21.)

Kamiak's best opportunity of the first half came in the 33rd minute when senior forward Spencer Kienholz gathered a loose ball at the top of the box, turned, and fired a hard left-foot shot onto goal. However, Shorecrests senior goalkeeper Eric Baker was up to the challenge and nicely secured the shot. In the 37th minute, Kamiak Junior Midfielder Zach Faller took advantage of a poorly cleared ball and drove a left footed line drive toward goal, which caromed off a Shorecrest defender and over the touch line for a corner kick.

Right: Kamiak senior forward Spencer Kienholz (#7, left) goes up against Shorecrest senior midfielder Michael Harris (#5, center) and junior defender Joe Schober (#4) during a Kamiak corner kick. Shorecrest junior defender Joe Schober (#4.) 

 

Although Shorecrest continued to have the majority of the possession in the second half, both teams created several good chances on goal. The back and forth play started to heat up as Kamiak was looking for the equalizer and Shorecrest was looking to extend its lead. In the 57th minute, a hard two-footed tackle at the top of Kamiak's box by Shorecrest's senior midfielder and 2009 Gatorade Player of the Year, Michael Harris, resulted in a yellow card. A few minutes later in the 60th minute, Paden was also served a yellow card for dissent. In a move to secure the victory, Shorecrest coach Drew Thompson inserted Harris back into the game as a central defender.

Kamiak nearly equalized in the 65th minute when sophomore midfielder Jordan Meyers one-touched a 37-yard screamer that sailed just wide of the left post. In the 69th minute, sophomore forward Jake Cummings maneuvered through several Shorecrest defenders inside the box, but was unable to get off a clean shot.

 

Left: Washington bound Shorecrest senior midfielder Michael Harris maneuvers in midfield

Both defenses held strong and the goalkeepers remained up to the task until the 71st minute when Shorecrest struck again. This time, a nice run down the left flank by Eli Blauser was temporarily thwarted by the Kamiak defense as he entered the box, but the loose ball that resulted was quickly picked up by Paden at the top of the box and he calmly stroked a 20-yard shot into the lower left corner of the net, just past the outstretched arms of Smith. And with that goal, Kamiak's hopes of being the first team to defeat Shorecrest were doused.

Kamiak's loss, combined with Mariner's win over Shorewood on Monday night, sets up an important Wednesday evening clash between Kamiak and Mariner (4-4, 8-7-0.) This game will not only decide the "Mukilteo Cup" and annual bragging rights, but also an important third-place finish in league play heading into the Northwest District Tournament.