For a change, there were virtually no lengthy spans of inattention for Medical Lake’s boys’ soccer team.
A brief one, however, in the early minutes of the second half ,was enough to deliver top-seeded Colville a 3-2 first-round playoff victory May 2 that bounced the No. 4 Cardinals from the postseason.
“We had a little lapse, right at the beginning of the second half, they scored two quick goals on us,” head coach Zane Higgins said.
Colville (12-3 overall) got goals from Alberto Cisneros just six minutes apart — at 45 and 51 minutes — to break a scoreless tie and then got the winner from Chase Kanamu’s corner kick in the 70th minute for the win.
Both of Cisneros’ goals came off headers, which Higgins said is unusual. “They were good goals,” he added.
Medical Lake never laid down as Nick Rosenbeck scored a pair of goals in the 59th and 67th minutes to tie. “We were competitive and stayed focused,” Higgins said.
Freshman keeper Kaye Jones stopped 13 of 16 Colville shots.
With the season over, Higgins reflected on both the parity this season in the Northeast A League, as well as the future of his team.
“It was tough this year with the top four teams,” Higgins said. His Cardinals finished 5-5 in the regular season, but were not that far away from first-place Colville at 9-2. Turning around a pair of shootout losses to Newport, or one to Lakeside and the picture is different.
“I don’t know why I want to call it unlucky, you make your own luck, but with all the teams being so close as we were, we were kinda’ unlucky,” Higgins said. “We had some ups and downs but finished strong.”
Looking to 2018 there is plenty with which to be optimistic about considering leading scorer, junior Rosenbeck and emerging star, Carter Pivonca, both return.
“We’re losing a few defenders and that’s the spot where we’re going to have to improve the most,” Higgins said.
While Steven Robo is back, the Cardinals lose Ty Masteller, “Which is a big one,” Higgins said.
The loss of Austin Geiger, another hole to fill, as well as Andre Tinnon, who just earned a starting role, ”And did a real good job for us,” Higgins said will be felt. Mark Jensen is another veteran defender who is lost to graduation.
There were nice surprises, besides Pivonca, in the form of his brother James. “I tried to keep them together by putting them on the same side of the field — they both did an outstanding job for us,” Higgins said.
And there was of course, Kaye Jones in goal. “In my opinion I thought he was the best goalkeeper in the league,” Higgins said.
Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].
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