Junior Sebastian Cruz Gonzalez netted the game-winning goal in a shootout and No. 2 Squalicum upset top-seeded Sehome, 1-0 (5-4), in the 2A District 1 championship on Tuesday, May 7 at Civic Stadium.
Squalicum (13-5) earned one of two state berths out of the tournament after 80 minutes of play. The Storm won their first district championship since 2014 after losing to Sehome twice in the regular season.
Sehome (15-1-1) was dealt its first defeat since May 26, 2023 — snapping a 17-game streak without a loss dating back to last season’s 2A state third/fourth place game. The Mariners entered the game as the reigning district champions.
With the win, Squalicum’s next game won’t be until at least Tuesday, May 14, when the first round of the 2A state tournament begins.
Sehome will have to win one more game against the winner of Bellingham (13-4-1) — which the Mariners beat twice in the regular season — and Anacortes (7-9-4) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 11 at Civic Stadium. That will be for the second state berth, with the loser eliminated.
Connor J. Benintendi is a former CDN sports reporter, send tips and information to newstips@cascadiadaily.com.
