The Eagles kept Viking defense busy during the first half of the match, swooping in repeatedly with attacks on goal. Just as steadily, the Orcas defense, backed by goalkeeper Alex Rodgers, repelled each attack for a 0-0 score at half.
“We showed a lot of promise passing the ball and moving up the field as a group,” said head coach Matt Stolmeier. And although it seemed a good number of Viking players went flying in the melee – especially during Viking offensive strikes – Stolmeier assured the Sounder that Cedar Park’s aggressive slide tackles were generally fair game.
The strategy may have contributed to the Eagle’s downfall in the second half.
“It was definitely a little more offensively minded on both sides,” said Stolmeier.
When a handball was called on the Eagles in the penalty box, senior player and team co-captain Christopher Ghazel took full opportunity of the resulting penalty shot, putting the first goal on the scoreboard for Orcas.
Five minutes later, Cedar Park nailed an almost identical penalty shot awarded due to a Viking pushing foul in the box.
“It was really just back and forth the whole time, aggressive play and good passing by both teams,” Stolmeier said.
Another five minutes on, and the Eagles struck again, their swift forwards sneaking a shot off around tenacious Viking defense to hit the net.
With a 2-1 score and five minutes left in the game, things were looking grim for Orcas when a Cedar Park player made a hard tackle on a Viking from behind – in the penalty box – earning himself a yellow card, and a penalty shot for the Vikes.
Ghazel took the shot again. This time the Eagles’ goalkeeper blocked the shot, but Ghazel followed through and hammered in the goal off the rebound to tie the game. Despite last-ditch efforts by both teams to strike the winning goal, the match went to a penalty shootout.
“The composure of all the boys who were faced with that responsibility was great,” said Stolmeier, saying the team had been honing its penalty skills in practices.
Norwegian exchange student Erlend Munkerud scored first, followed by a Cedar Park miss off the post.
“He plays a lot back home; he’s very confident and a sure shot from that penalty spot,” Stolmeier said of Munkerud.
Aidan McCormick stepped up next, nailing the goal with “ somewhat of an unorthodox technique,” he said. Following another Eagle miss, Christopher Ghazel knocked in the third shot, his third successful penalty shot of the game. Rodgers blocked the next Eagle attempt, and with just one more score needed to seal the win, “Rheese Thompson stepped up and pounded it right through. It was a great shot,” said Stolmeier.
“It was a really, really good game,” he added. “We showed a lot of promise passing the ball and moving up the field as a group. It was definitely a team victory. Everybody worked really hard.”
Stolmeier credited Jack Russillo and Chase Drake at midfield for their hard work, along with Aiden McCormick and Roo Smith, who both “played some great defense.”
Next home game on Friday, Oct. 7
The game was the first of a five-game home streak for the team; they will face La Conner on Dahl Field on Friday at 3 p.m. Their league record is 2-2, with wins over Mount Vernon Christian and Cedar Park Christian and losses to La Conner and Shoreline Christian.
