Mount Vernon boys soccer midfielder Angel Reyes scored a game-tying goal in the 78th minute, and the Bulldogs were able to come away with a 2-2 stalemate with host Sehome in Northwest Conference action on Thursday, April 3.
Class 2A’s No. 2-ranked Sehome (7-0-1, 6-0-1 NWC) entered unbeaten on a seven-game win streak. Class 3A Mount Vernon (3-2-2, 3-2-2 NWC) had lost two of its last four matches.
“I am grateful for Sehome,” Mount Vernon coach Behr Ibarra said. “Without them, we wouldn’t get the chance to showcase what these guys can do. It shows us we can do it. Some of the doubt these boys might have had, we can erase that thought.”
Gallery: Sehome and Mount Vernon boys soccer tie
The Bulldogs were able to secure the tie with a goal from Reyes heading a low cross in the 78th minute in front of the net.
“He found a way to redeem himself,” Ibarra said. “He found another opportunity and I am proud of him.”
Before scoring the header, Reyes missed a penalty kick, two shots on an open net and had a couple other shots saved by Sehome’s Santiago Pacheco Rodriguez.
“Santiago is an incredible keeper,” Sehome coach Jose Flores said. “He went from C-team to varsity last year and helped us a lot. I think he is getting a reputation for stopping penalties.”
Before tying the game, Mount Vernon struggled throughout the first half. Sehome found themselves with several free kicks within the first five minutes.
However, most of their shots sailed over the crossbar. In the ninth minute, Liam Schumacher received a through ball, where he crossed the ball in the air, Rudy Zurcher took a touch and scored on a volley.
“They were great,” Flores said. “The process of everything was great.”
Mount Vernon didn’t have its first shot on net until 28 minutes into the game when Nate Castellano’s shot dribbled to Rodriguez. The Bulldogs tied the game in the 47th minute with a 25-yard free kick goal from Ernesto Zuniga.
Sehome’s second goal came in the 54th minute when Zurcher scored after receiving a deep pass, juking a defender and shooting a line drive into the net. Although Sehome was unable to retake the lead, Flores was pleased with how the Mariners’ team could learn from the experience.
“Ties happen and you don’t win every game, otherwise this sport would be boring,” Flores said. “The intensity of close games is what we need to feel because it will help us grow.”
Sehome will play at Sedro-Woolley at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 15. Mount Vernon hosts Oak Harbor at 7 p.m. on April 15.
“I am extremely proud of these boys,” Ibarra said. “We came in against a highly ranked team with mad respect and walked in and took one point.”
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
