EVERETT After defeating Snohomish in front of a home crowd April 7, the Tomahawk soccer team was poised to take control of the league with a win over Everett two nights later.
They did so, winning 1-0.
Senior captain and midfielder Nick Burdett scored a hat trick in the Tomahawks 3-2 win over Snohomish, evening the game at a goal apiece in the 42nd minute when he intercepted a Snohomish defender attempting to clear the ball.
A penalty kick by Burdett in the last 10 minutes retied the game 2-2, and another in the final three minutes gave the Tommies the win, avenging a loss in the season opener.
Burdett also scored the winning goal against Everett midway through the first half.
Though M-P scored only once against Everett, they controlled the ball much of the time, showing patience in passing and anticipating each others movements.
Burdett attributed the Tomahawks fluid play to their team identity.
Tonight we kind of struggled, but a win is a win, he said. Were a good team. Were together as a team.
Preparing for games against big league rivals has fine-tuned the Tomahawk defense and improved M-Ps ability to take advantage of scoring opportunities from throw-ins and corner kicks. But M-P coach Geoff Kittles new aim is to finish stronger on the teams offensive drives.
I wish we were scoring more goals, he said. We have to find ways to combine and get inside.
The win over Everett made the Tomahawks the first team to reach eight wins they have just two losses supplanting Snohomish atop the standings and giving the Tomahawks control of their destiny for the rest of the season. If they can keep winning, it would be a historic season for M-P soccer.
Were six games away from winning a league title for the first time in school history, Kittle said. I think the guys believe they can win a league title now.