MARYSVILLE — After the game, very little seemed to distinguish Marysville-Pilchuck soccer’s 4-0 win over Arlington from any of their other games in the season.
Tomahawk coach Geoff Kittle intended it that way.
Nevertheless, M-P’s win over Arlington May 6 was a significant one, concluding an undefeated regular season in which the Tommies won their first-ever Wesco North championship.
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The Tomahawks have no intention of letting up with each game from here on out more important than any of their regular season wins. They host Jackson in a winner-to-state game May 12 and hope to continue from there to the single-elimination state tournament which will culminate at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood.
“It’s not done yet,” Kittle said. “It just doesn’t mean anything unless we get the district title and state title.”
Both teams showed improvement in the meeting between Arlington and M-P. Dogged by miscues on defense in late-stage games, the Tomahawks focused on cleaning up play on that side of the ball, shutting out Monroe and Lake Stevens in recent games for three straight to end the season. With the chance to secure a play-in district game on the line, Arlington hadn’t been playing their game in recent losses and was looking for a win at M-P or a Cascade loss to preserve their season.
While the Eagles found their mojo again at Quil Ceda Stadium, it wasn’t enough to spoil M-P’s senior night.
“Tonight was actually an encouraging game for me, as a coach. We had dropped some games. Tonight, we were back, playing Arlington soccer,” said Arlington coach Mike Gudgeon. “Our guys played brilliantly and it was a great way to end the regular season.”
The Eagles got the Cascade loss they were looking for, earning a play-in game against Mountlake Terrace May 9 at Edmonds Stadium.
Juniors John Crenshaw and Brady Ballew scored late in the first half to give the Tomahawks a 2-0 halftime lead. In the second half, midfielder Elwood Sevon scored twice, the first a rebound in the 68th minute off a Seth Jones attempt. Keeper Kyle Bluhm had the shutout for M-P.
