Soccer roundup: Aberdeen stuns Fife, 1-0, in first round of 2A state tournament

Aberdeen scored midway through the first period and held off a strong second-half push from 2015 state runner-up Fife to knock off the Trojans, 1-0, in the first round of the 2A state tournament on Tuesday night at Fife High School.

The win was Aberdeen’s first in a state tournament since 2007 and sets up the Bobcats for a second-round matchup against defending Class 2A state champion Archbishop Murphy, which defeated North Kitsap, 5-0. Aberdeen improves to 20-2 overall this season, while Fife’s season ends with a 13-5-1 record.

“That was a really good team that we beat tonight,” Aberdeen head coach Larry Fleming said. “We played really well and hustled a bunch, and our goalie played a great game, and we got some breaks, too. You have to get the bounces, and they had a couple that just went over.

“We did have a couple good chances, but they definitely had the better offensive chances so it was a team defensive win for us.”

Bobcats goalkeeper Alexis Garcia made several key saves, including multiple saves in a three-minute stretch midway through the second period. Nursing the narrow lead after halftime, the Bobcats played five defenders and relied on Garcia’s play in the box and his defensive teammates to keep Fife off the board.

“We played great overall as a team,” Garcia said. “I had a good game, but it was all about the team effort as we won every ball and came into a game where everybody doubted us and surprised Fife on their home field.”

“He’s improved the whole season for us,” Fleming said of his junior goalkeeper. “Just the last few games he’s really taken over, gotten up into the air and been aggressive coming out on balls and taking hits and being tough in the box.”

Aberdeen broke through for the night’s lone goal in the 18th minute of play. Fife goalkeeper Gonzalo Villacorta saved a shot attempt from Tony Oropeza, but Miguel Torres took the rebound from Villacorta right in front of the net and sent it in for the 1-0 lead.

While the first half saw back-and-forth action throughout and even possession between the teams, Fife came out attacking in the second period. The Trojans held possession for the majority of play after the break and had several near-miss attempts at tying the match, even with a free kick in the final seconds of stoppage play. Fife finished the night with 19 shot attempts, while Garcia grabbed nine saves – six in the second half – to preserve the shutout.

“Everybody gives everything they’ve got, and you try to do the best you can,” Fife head coach Tony Crudo said. “This was kind of a reflection of our season. We won our league and played fantastic but just couldn’t come up with that goal to put the game away. We would have liked to go a little bit farther, but the guys played well and I’m very proud of them and the season we had.”

CLASS 3A

Glacier Peak 3, Capital 2 (SO 5-4): The Grizzlies swiftly ended Capital’s run in the 3A playoffs.

One shot — the final kick in a penalty shootout — was the decider at Ingersoll Stadium. A blast off the foot of William Klemmer appeared headed for the net until Glacier Peak goalkeeper Sahm Noorfeshan swooped in for a save.

“You never want it to go to PKs,” Capital coach Andrew Lopez said. “No one ever feels good going into PKs. We’ve practiced PKs pretty consistently for the past month and a half after practice, and tried to be prepared, but, it was tough. It’s the difference between one shot.”

Glacier Peak never led before that point. Nigel El-Sokkary scored two goals for Capital in the 11th and 48th minutes to bring his season total to 30 (he also finished with 22 assists). Of Capital’s 68 goals this season, El-Sokkary had a role in 76 percent of them.

The Grizzlies evened it twice on goals from Keegan Rubio (36th minute) and Cage Roberge (66th). Glacier Peak was perfect in penalty kicks, while Capital recorded four. Conner Seed’s final kick for the Grizzlies was the winner.

“I feel like we definitely deserve more than we got out of tonight,” El-Sokkary said. “But, Glacier Peak played well, they’re a tough team, and all we can do is wish them luck in the games to come.”

Roosevelt 3, Auburn Mountainview 2: Erik DeAnda scored his 25th and 26th goals of the season, but it wasn’t enough as the Lions fell to the Roughriders.

Auburn Mountainview fell behind 2-0 just before halftime after a pair of goals from Roosevelt’s Avery Jacobson. Jacobson scored his second in the 37th minute before DeAnda answered back a minute later on an assist from Christian Rotter, his 17th of the season.

DeAnda’s second goal cut it to 3-2, but a late header hit off the crossbar that could have tied it. Auburn Mountainview’s season ends in the first round of the 3A state tournament.

AMV (16-3-0) for the first time in school history won the 3A South Puget Sound League title and also won the 3A West Central/Southwest bidistrict tournament.

Edmonds-Woodway 2, Auburn Riverside 1: Tanner Larson scored first for Auburn Riverside, but two late goals by Edwing Martinez-Galmichi in the 64th and 72nd minutes led the Warriors past the Ravens in the first round of the 3A state tournament.

“I think the team played well,” Auburn Riverside head coach Robyn Saarenas said. “I am proud of our seniors. A lot of our success came from the leadership, hard work and talent of our seniors. I will miss them.”

Lakeside 2, Sumner 0: Will Barton broke the scoreless tie with less than seven minutes remaining and the Lions added one more goal in stoppage time to end the Spartans’ season in the first round of the 3A state tournament.

Sam Agosti found Barton in the 73rd minute before Agosti scored one of his own in the final two minutes.

Sumner (12-5-1) beat Central Kitsap on penalty kicks Saturday to clinch its third state tournament berth since 2013.

CLASS 1A

Seattle Academy 1, Charles Wright 0 (SO 5-4): It took a 5-4 shootout for the Warriors to upset the Tarriers in the first round of the 1A state tournament.

“The game was definitely a battle,” Charles Wright head coach Bill Chissoe said. “I am proud of Charles Wright. They had a great season. The boys committed to each other, they worked hard for each other. It was what sports is all about.

This story was originally published May 18, 2016 at 9:51 AM with the headline "Soccer roundup: Aberdeen stuns Fife, 1-0, in first round of 2A state tournament."