Washington State U-16 & U-17 Boys and Girls Finals

Boys U-17 Final Emerald City vs Crossfire

What can I say besides this was the best game of the day. Emerald City has had a spectacular year of soccer winning Thanksgiving Nomads, and compiling a 37 (W) - 1 (L) - 5 (T) record - for the year. Crossfire, well they are still Crossfire and the team to beat at the age going into the game.

The game started with both teams sort of feeling each other out and nothing of any true threat for either. You can tell both teams have high energy, and the game will be intense. In fact Emerald city player Brandon Kelley starts the game off with an early card.

Crossfire begins the action on goal with a nice combinations from Mitch Barrows to Kyle Montgomery after a nice cutback of the ball. Montgomery fires a shot but it's right to Chris Blais the keeper for Emerald City. Minutes later though Montgomery will have sweet redemption when Crossfire wins a freekick on the left side outside the 18. Montgomery hits a bending ball far post that catches Blais off guard and ends up in the side netting for a 1-0 Crossfire lead.

For the next few minutes the intensity for both teams is extremely high. You don't see any let down from Emerald City because of the goal. Their determination pays off minutes late when they win a freekick on the right side of the Crossfire box after Brandon Kelley is fouled. The freekick is sent in far post and Colin Schmetzer gets up and heads it in. A great goal to get Emerald City back even at 1-1. Emerald City also had the next real chance as Brandon Kelley gets a ball played to him near the goal and quickly brings it down and fires over the goal.

Crossfire then begins to establish the flow of the game and control of the rest of the half. Crossfire wins a corner and Kyle Montgomery sends it into the head of Taylor Mueller. Mueller puts his header on target only to have it defelcted wide by an Emerald City defender for another corner. On the next corner Daniel Gray sends it in and Ryan Luke brings down the hard cross to his feet and fires a bullet on target and into the net for a 2-1 Crossfire lead.

With the 2-1 lead Crossfire applies continued pressure with Cam Vickers getting a ball and turning and firing at the top edge of the 18 yard box hitting it just over. Crossfire then displays a nice sequence of 3 or 4 passes with the final pass hitting Nick James who hits a cracker from about 20 yards out that's just over. Nick James minutes later has a shot block inside the 18 that lands at the feet of Cam Vickers. Vickers shot finds the keepr though, with Blais making a great save.

To end the half Crossfire has Kyle Montgomery put into the books receiving a card. Overall, it's a half Crossfire has controlled, but at no point has Emerald City cracked on defense to the point of opening the flood gate. Emerald City is fighting for every ball and still very dangerous with Brandon Kelley drawing fouls left and right up front.

Crossfire starts the half strong like they finished the 1st half. With Daniel Gray dribbling and penetrating the defense, then slotting a ball to Ryan Luke who hits his shot off a defender that slowly deflects right to the keeper. Joel Schilperoot then drives down the left side and hits a hard cross that's cleared by the Emerald City defense.

It seemed Crossfire was in control, but Emerald City was not dead or giving up. They struck gold with their intensity and some very nice teamwork. Brandon Kelley and Collin Schmetzer did some great one touch passsing and found Erik Johnsen free inside the box with only the keeper to beat. Johnsen calmly slotted it in for a 2-2 tie. It was a well dersevred goal, and awesome to watch the unselfish passes. Only minute later Emerald City had a chance for the lead. Brandon Kelley got a ball free into the box, after Crossfire defender Jeff Willey slipped on the turf. Kelley would love to have it back as he blasted the shot thru the field goal up rights.

Crossfire then had a nice combination sequence with Daniel Gray linking to Kyle Montgomery to Nick James who has a low line drive shot on target. Go thru traffic and hit the far post and bounce out. Minutes later Doug Harrel had a nice look from 25 but Chris Balis was up to task. Crossfire then had a ball comein and had a header go off the crossbar not sure if Blais deflected it up into it or not. Regardless it hit the bar and came right back out into a crowd Jeff Willey got up and headed it on target again only to have it cleared off the line by an Emerald City defender. Crossfire then had a corner come into the box from Nick Cashmere which deflects perfectly out of the crowd to Vlad Voin. Voin however isn't up to task and misfires on the shot.

As the game ended and was heading to overtime, I could only think of all the chances Crossfire had to win the game in regulation. The one factor though in all of this was how steady Emearld City had really played on defense and how well Chris Blais had done all game. There was also the Kelley factor up front for Emerald City.

Overtime was much of the same with Crossfire having more chances than Emerald City. I won't bore everyone with detail though, because this game was headed to pk's.

PK 1 for CF...Nick James struck to the right side ....goal

PK 1 EC...Erik Johnsen struck well but hits post...miss

PK 2 CF...Cam Vickers hits dead cneter basically at keeper...miss

PK 2 EC Jacob Ellig hit right and clean....goal

PK 3 CF...Jake Jorgensenhit to tthe left and saved by Chris Blais....miss

PK 3 EC....Michio Akazawa hit dead center but scores....goal

PK 4 CF.... Taylor Mueller hit to the right and in...goal

PK 4 EC...Sean Morris hit to the right and saved by Daniel Mangum...miss

PK 5 CF... Kyle Montgomery shot to the right and hits post, may have been deflected by Chris Blais..miss

PK 5 EC....Joseph Greenburgshot to the right and saved by Daniel Mangum...miss

PK 6 CF.....Ryan Luke struck well and strikes post well....miss

PK 6 EC......Brandon Kelley struck well, game over.

I personally thought this was the best match of the day because it was up and down the field. Emerald City never gave up even down 1-0 and then 2-1. As a "TEAM" they fought hard and had that never die attitude. I think they'll have a very good regional run. Although I haven't seen the brackets, I like their defenses size, and up top Brandon Kelley will win them multiple freekicks. Crossfire lost, but they are a very good team. They had mutiple looks and chances cleared off the line or hit the post. A loss "YES", but a bad team or loser "NO" I'm actually looking forward to next year and seeing these 2 teams play again. Emerald City best of luck at regionals, and most of all nice year of soccer.

 

Girls U-17 Final Eastside VS FC Royals

This was a game between a team I'd heard so much about, and a team I knew so little about. Eastside coming into the game with 3 girls who have at some point played on the US National team for their age. The Royals a team I knew exactly one fact about, they wear baby blue. I truly had no idea what to expect.

Before the game even began, I got the feeling by sizing up the teams that Eastside would be physical and the Royals would play a bit more finesse. As the game begin that seemed to be how it would play out. The Royals start the game knocking the ball around. I notice right away that Eastside must have some sort of rule for their outside midfielders that they have to stay outside the numbers on the field.

In the early stages if the Royals keep the ball on the turf they tend to keep the ball, but once it's in the air Eastside uses size and wins it and begins attack. Within minutes Eastside has won one of these balls and is attacking quickly down the left flank. The ball gets crossed in and in a flash it's flick in off the head of McKenzie Barney for a 1-0 eastside lead. Up to that point it seemed like the Royals had a bit more of the play.....after that point you saw some energy in Eastside.

Eastside then goes on a thru ball terror slotting a ball to Amanda Johnson who is in, but misses badly on her attempt. it easily could have been 2-0 at this point. Johnson minutes later gets fed another ball and is in. She cuts the ball back and has a nice shot saved by the Royals keeper. The Roylas then had a nice combination between Jill Jensen when she dropped the ball back to Bree Rowe who fired a shot wide. Then it was the Eastside Johnson show again, getting her 3rd breakaway chance in the last 15 minutes or so of the game. This time Johnson is completely in on the keeper only to have her knock the attempt wide of the net.

As the teams went to half. The play and run of the game was pretty good for both. With Eastside clearly only up 1-0, in a game that could have been 3-0 easily.

Eastside began the second half much like the first half, with hteir outside mids staying outside the numbers. In some ways to start the half it seemed like they were just content to have the 1-0 win.

The Royals had a few nice plays early with Brandi Manly sending in a nice high cross into the box. Only to have Jordan Kussman go up high to get it in a crowd. Then they had some very nice build up of play and sent a ball thru to Kimberly Lowry who was called offsides. A close call, but from my angle I'd say the AR got it right. The Royals still seemed capable of knocking the ball around pretty well, but once it was in the offensive third they struggled.

The rest of the game was pretty much all Eastide. Eastside substitute Sydney Leroux came into the game and got involved quickly. Leroux got into the box on two occasions. Once on a ball she hit wide on a tough attempt. Then again Leroux was in on a breakaway, and if not for her touch that failed her. I'm positive she puts it into the back of the net. Instead she's forced to slide into the keepr to just get a foot on it and is cautioned by the referee.

The rest of the game was pretty standard stuff, and it was obvious why Eastside had win P1. Although, I felt the score could have been worse. Eastside did what they had too, and they won the right to regionals. Overall I liked the Royals team and how they played soccer, they just seemed to be missing that final third of play on the offensive end on this particular day. I also felt the speed of Eastside was a factor, it seemed they had 3 or 4 girls that rotated up front with blazing speed. In the end the team that deserved the win, got it. best of luck at regionals.

 

Boys U-16 Final / Crossfire VS Emerald City

This was a match of two teams who know each other well. Having two coaches who both have coached the Sounders. One the current coach, and one a former coach. Crossfire had on their Tokyo Reds, and Emerald City in their Bright Blues.

The game started in what seemed to be a blazing pace. Crossfire had the first attempt on goal about two minutes in when Aaron Bererril was pushed up and hit a volley on goal. Minutes later Crossfire player Avimal Castro hit a cross, but no one was in the box to finish it. It would be their last chance for about 10 minutes though.

The play on the field in some ways was more to the liking of Emerald City. With lots of balls being played high and long in the air. They seemed to be winning most of the headers and matchups in the air. Hard tackles are happening all over the field. The only kid missing from such an early tacklefest in Brandon Zimmerman. It was his sort of game early.

Emerald City then began applying pressure on the Crossfire goal. DJ Drevitch sent a cross into the are that Ryan Wilson just missed. Just moments later Jamie Rees hits a shot that's deflected and drops to his teammate Ryan Wilson who strikes it hard on target, only to have Brooks Hopp of Crossfire make an outstanding save. Emerald City minutes later has a freekick that Jamie Rees takes, that he hammers. Crossfire keeper Brooks Hopp comes up huge again, tipping it off the crossbar and saving a for sure goal.

Emerald City is getting more and more confident and at times really controlling the tempo.

Emerald City them starts to attack more winning a corner kick. Ian Cross sends the ball in and Dylan Tucker-Gangnes hits a nice volley that deflects for another corner. On the next corner the same pair connect, but this time Tucker-Gangnes heads it to Crossfire keeper Brooks Hopp. Just 5 minutes later Tucker-Ganges get's loose and hits a cracker far post that Brooks makes a fine save again.

As the half comes to a close. The referee cards Crossfire player Alexander Klein for a so so foul. To me it didn't look like much nor intentional. One of many suspect calls to me in a Championship game. The game has been called extremely tight.

As the half comes to a close, I can't help but think without Brooks Hopp and the great saves he's made Crosffire is probably losing 2-0 at half. Brooks has definitely been the "Man of the Half". Emerald City has been the team of the half. Probably having about 60% of the play.

As the second half starts Crossfire tries to get into the flow a bit better. Avimael Castro hitting an early nice shot just over the goal. A bit later a longer ball gets played out of the back to Estaban Reyes of Crossfire at about the 50. Reyes has the composure to notice the keeper is out 25 yards and lofts a high floater at the goal that sails over and out for a goal kick.

The next 10 minutes the game is a sleeper with both teams getting little real passing going. Although Emerald City still seems to be a bit in contol of the game. Which at times frustrates the Crossfire players. Crossfire receives another card, when Estaban Reyes goes down near the Emerald city goal box and is carded for ....ummm acting. Reyes was very close to a red card, if not for teammates stepping in and getting him away from the referee. With tempers flaring and frustration setting in it seemed Crossfire would need something magical to pull this game out.

Anthony Arena was about to become a magician. From the 40 yard line football stripe on the field, which is about 45 yards from the goal. Crossfire wins a free kick on the right side 10 yards in from the sideline. Arena, who is well know for his deft touch on set pieces. Placed the ball down and from 45 yards away, sent what can only be described as a laser beam at the goal far post. The Emerald City keeper who was outstanding all game made one critical error. He stepped forward and froze for a brief second as the laser came towards the goal. By the time he realized it was not losing pace, it was too late and in the upper V and a goal. It was the type of flight from the ball that is rarely seen at the youth level. It's the type of goal that you only here about. It was the tall tale, white lie, fantasy goal, highlight reel, or better yet for Crossfire. It was their trip to Regionals.

Emerald City has nothing to be ashamed of though. It was a game I'd say they had 60% of the play. On this day they were the better team. In soccer the better team on any given day doesn't always win. On this day they were beaten by a kick from the gods, and a Crossfire goalie who played out of his mind for the second State final in a row. Brooks Hopp, you were the "Man of the Match". Anthony Arena, you were the "Magician". Emerald City ......you were unlucky.

Girls U-16 Final / Fenix vs. Spokane Shadow

This was a game that would have the same two teams in the final as last year. Both teams reaching the final after overtime and pk victories in their semi finals games. Both teams come in playing completely different styles of soccer as well. One a very team oriented passing game, the other a more direct style of hitting their forwards on the run.

The matchup also would give Spokane a chance to revenge a 3-0 loss the previous year. It also marked the 3rd trip in a row to the finals for Spokane. Not bad considering they did not even play in the State Tournament at U-13. For Fenix...formally Phoenix it would be their second trip to the finals, not bad for a rogue team playing out of the Emerald City area. It's not easy to compete for players with a larger club and they have done it well.

The game started slow with about 10 mins or so of feeling out time. The one thing I notice though is that Spokane player Danielle Racyzkowski is everywhere. She's winning a ton of balls in the air, on the ground, and making tackles. Her play early seems to give Spokane and added lift and sets the tempo for them. You can sense that Spokane has spent the couple weeks preparing for the sort of attack they'd face. They seem to be out of their normal flat back system, and keeping Chelsea Jones a bit deeper with Danielle up a bit in a sudo diamond. Basically winning the lower struck long balls with Danielle and cleaning up the longer ones with Chelsea.

Fenix continues to probe the longer balls forward. Using the speed of Megan Chapin and Pfeiffer Bloecker to run down balls struck into space. Fenix did win a freekick about 10 minutes in that was sent in by Megan Chapin that the Spokane keeper Elizabeth Boyden has to get up in a crowd to catch.

In the early going the referee was blowing his whistle all the time. I found it frustrating to watch and found it was effecting the game for both teams. The referee comes into play all game and cards Spokane player Marissa Mykines, from my perspective it was not a card type foul. He also carded in the second half a Fenix player, again a wasted card. (I thought the game was called way too tight for a Championship....his calls didn't change the outcome per say. They did slow the game and take away the fluidness)

Spokane continued to link passes and at times connected on 5-8 in a row. Working the wings and around the defense to reset and regroup their attack. At times it's was really fun to watch and you could sense they were prepared for this game and playing their style of soccer.

In the next few minute Fenix and Spokane both had legitimate threats on goal. Fenix sent a nice ball wide to Pfeiffer Bloecker who drove quickly down the sideline and if not for a picture perfect slide tackle. Bloecker would have been in on goal. Fenix though seems to be struggling a bit to connect with their longer ball game plan. At times hitting balls forward with few players forward. making it easy for Spokane to just control the longer balls and set up their attack. Fenix does connect on a few from time to time, with Megan Chapin running down a few and winning corners or firing shots wide or over the end line.

The half ends and Spokane has controlled the tempo and controlled the game. The thing I notice though is that Fenix is definitely dangerous and one good long ball away from a goal. So controlling the game and winning it may be a different story.

As the second half begins Danielle Raczykowski continues her dominance in the middle of the field. Covering ground and just snuffing out attacks time and time again for Spokane. Spokane has their best chance early in the second half with a ball sent thru to Angela Hughes at the top of the 18. As she dribbles into the box, she get's clipped and the ball gets away from her. She falls, but only after a step or two of getting clipped. Just my opinion, but had she fallen a step sooner, it would have been a pk, as it was....it's a no call and rightly so. Spokane then has another nice chance as a ball gets deflected to 17(no name) on the right side, but she fires a fairly soft shot at goal.

As the half goes on Spokane starts to dominate the edges of the field with Marissa Mykines and Jaimey Etten on the ouside left and right midfield getting ball after ball. Both girls did a nice job of attacking quickly and getting balls to their forwards.

As I watched the second half, I wondered if Fenix would start passing or connecting more on their longer balls played from the back. They just seemed to be a bit off, and linking more than 2 or 3 passes was the exception...not the rule for them.

As the whistle blew for the regulation and the teams headed to OT, in this game Spokane was the better soccer team. OT however was a fresh game and Fenix could easily change that and win this game.

The first OT, saw no real threats on goal. Spokane continued to control the pace and play and had 2 or 3 shots. Fenix still made you feel like one connection and they'd pull the rabbit out of the hat.

Second OT

It started similar to the 1st, with Fenix however getting a corner, but the ball was sent in and cleared to end the chance.

Then lightning struck. I know the goal was spectacular, not because of only my eyes. I was surrounded by the boys team (U-17) playing later in the day, and boys aren't easily impressed by girls playing ability. Spokane player Angela Hughes received the ball in the left side edge of the field. From just outside the 18, with three Fenix players near her she looked trapped. Hughes pushed the ball at the 1st defender and then cut by her, as the second and third hesitated she began her job of transforming them into cones. She cut thru them and was free close to the end line, but she wasn't finished. As she looked up to cross the ball, she noticed the keeper had cheated out preparing for her cross. Angela then fired a laser beam near post, forcing the Fenix keeper to reach back and push the ball into the goal. All of the boys around me, were yelling...amazed by her own little dribbletacular show. The slice and dice and the awareness to fire the ball near post was special and I'm not sure any true soccer fan wasn't completely impressed.

The game ended minutes later and the Spokane Shadow had won the State title for U-16 girls. On a personal note I'd like to congratulate Jeff Robbins and the girls on a great game. It was a win you deserved and you will do well at regionals.