By JOHN McCALLUM
Editor
Throughout their 2A state tournament run, the Cheney soccer team's bend-but-don't-break defense had mostly held firm against opponent's pressure, providing enough time for the Blackhawks' offense to find ways to score.
For most of the first 59 minutes of last Saturday night's 2A championship game with Squalicum at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner, that pattern held true. Eventually, however, the Storm broke through, scoring three goals in the last 21 minutes for a 4-2 win to capture their first ever state title, and for the second year in a row relegate Cheney to the role of bridesmaid.
But for those first 59 minutes, it looked like it was the Hawks who might finally reach the winner's circle. Head coach Steve Davis said they saw weak spots among the Storm's center back defenders, and attacked them early in the game, just missing a couple of scoring opportunities.
That changed in the 15th minute. Cheney junior midfielder Daniel Igbinoba threaded a sideline throw-in to the front of the net, where Grady Early headed a pass towards Paul Holloway, and the senior scored from 2 yards for a 1-0 lead.
But Davis said Squalicum is a talented team with great attacking potential and skills in moving and possessing the ball, and they demonstrated that for much of the remainder of the half, controlling the ball and putting pressure on Cheney's defense. The Hawks held until the 27th minute when George Karadimas got behind Cheney's defenders and beat goalkeeper Andrew Wilson to a ball, sending home a shot tying the game.
Squalicum kept up the offensive pressure into the second half until the 56th minute when Cheney again found an opening in the Storm's defense. Sophomore forward Xavier Day beat everyone to a 50-50 ball and sent a shot home giving Cheney the 2-1 lead.
But the Storm have a reputation for getting quick goals after being scored upon, Davis said, and up to Saturday's game had outscored their previous three opponents 13-5. The pattern held against Cheney when the Storm found some openings in the Hawks' weak-side defense and exploited them. Karadimas again found the back of the net in the 59th minute, and Connor Shipman scored in the 67th minute giving Squalicum a 3-2 lead.
“We put up some pretty good shape there (weak side), but they found a way,” Davis said.
Needing some offensive pressure, Davis and his coaching staff moved defender Paul Holloway up front, where the senior has previously provided some solid striking ability and intensity. The move almost worked, with Holloway at one point having a good scoring opportunity negated by an offside call, but it also took away a key player from Cheney's defense, and Squalicum capitalized on it with Dimitri Polichronakis scoring in the 79th minute to cement the school's title.
Despite Squalicum controlling most of the offensive flow of the game, Cheney still out shot the Storm 14-13.
To get to the title game the Hawks had to overcome a situation that has proved their nemesis in the past – the shootout. Cheney battled Central Washington Athletic Conference champion Prosser to a 1-1 tie through regulation and two overtimes in the second 2A semifinal game on Friday, but outscored the Mustangs 4-3 in the shootout for a 2-1 win.
The Hawks again got on the board first, when Igbinoba's sideline throw-in from 15 yards out bounced past several players to a waiting Alex Adams who knocked in a close in shot for a 1-0 halftime lead.
“Daniel can really huck it,” Davis said. “He's a force within 30 yards (of the goal) on either sideline.”
In the second half Cheney again found itself facing increased offensive pressure, with the Mustangs tying the game in the 59th minute on a goal by Enrique Romero. But neither team could convert on chances in the remainder of regulation, nor in the two overtimes.
Faced with a shootout, not only did the Hawks' shooters come through, but so did Wilson. The first Mustang shooter's attempt went over the net, and Wilson got a defensive stop helping the Hawks notch a return trip to the title game. Getting goals in the shootout for Cheney were Holloway, Austin Walker, Early and Evan Cook.
Davis was proud of the way his team played, throughout the season and in the state tournament where Cheney found itself against teams more talented and skilled at possession and taking care of the ball.
“They (Hawks) worked hard and they progressed through the state tournament against more talented teams and it didn't seem to bother them,” he said. “They laid out everything they had, every time they stepped on the field as individuals and as a team.”
The title game was the end of the high school careers of six Cheney seniors, Holloway, Early, Tyler Olson, Bryce Parkinson, Joey Sexton and Sam Sill, who have played a big part in the Hawks' success the past three seasons. Including this year's 18-3 record, the Hawks have a 73-12 mark over the past four years, reached state each year, including 2006's 3A quarterfinals finish, won three consecutive Great Northern League titles and finished second in state two years in a row.
Saturday after the sting of the title game loss had subsided a bit, the Hawks gathered in a circle on the field, arms around shoulders, while the seniors imparted to the other players what it was that drove them this year to return to Sumner.
“They kind of passed the torch on to the younger kids for next season,” Davis said. “It was enjoyable to watch them play. It was enjoyable to coach them.”
Davis also credited the team's success to his coaching staff, “the best in the state,” – Mark Kiver, Matt Pollack, Marisa Sheldon, Nels Radtke and Wade Nielson, along with CHS trainer Kyle Loughery and his student staff.
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected]
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