A sturdy defense lifted the Union boys soccer program to a new level this spring, including a league championship. Which made the turn of events at Kiggins Bowl on Saturday especially exasperating for the Titans.
The Central Kitsap Cougars capitalized on two uncharacteristic back-line mishaps and held off a strong second-half push from Union to beat the Titans 2-1 in a Class 4A bi-district playoff match.
The result ended Union’s most successful boys soccer season one victory shy of the state tournament.
“I think we just came out too hyped up and too excited,” said Union goalkeeper Alex Wheelon. “We weren’t able to execute our game plan, and because of that they got two early goals that they shouldn’t have.”
The visitors from Silverdale came to Vancouver with confidence as the fourth-place team from a tough Narrows League that has produced multiple state champions in recent years.
The Cougars got an early lift when defender Trevor Park put away a loose ball after several Titans missed chances to clear a corner kick out of danger.
“I think that changed the whole complexion of the game,” Central Kitsap coach Christopher Floro said. “It set the belief in us that we could win the game. And it put Union on notice that this was going to be a bit of an uphill battle.
“When we got the second goal I think it deflated them even more,” Floro said. “But then they came at us in the second half.”
The second goal came with less than 15 minutes played. Another defensive mistake allowed Central Kitsap forward Lucas Thoresen to step between a defender and Wheelon to take possession just outside the 18-yard box and easily slide a shot into an open goal.
The Cougars carried the momentum from the quick start through much of the first half. But the Titans came alive in the second half, spending more time in possession and pressing the attack.
They pulled within one on a well-executed free kick midway through the second half. Mikhail Doholis swerved a cross from the right side into the penalty area, and Union defender and co-captain Brandon Langeland outjumped two defenders to head the ball into the goal.
Union (11-2-4) continued to press for the equalizer. But Central Kitsap goalkeeper Jordan Berkley came up big five times in the second half.
Among those plays were a difficult diving stop on a Michael Granados shot, and later a lunging stop on of a promising free kick from Doholis. The Cougars’ keeper also beat Doholis to a through ball and cleared it with his feet. Berkley also pounced on a loose ball when it appeared Doholis had beaten the defense and keeper with his dribble.
“We knew if we got the first goal, we could get the second,” Doholis said. “But it just wasn’t in the cards today.”
Doholis is a junior, but said he plans to graduate early next year to get a jump on his college soccer career at Oregon State.
The seven seniors on this Titans team — Wheelon, Granados, Langeland, Tommy Foster, Hudson Poissant, Stephan Chung and Joe White — have been varsity contributors since Union High School opened when they were freshmen.
“We’ve worked thousands of hours to get better just for this sport,” Wheelon said, listing after-school training sessions and summer camps as examples.
“Devoting so much time to something truly attests to how much it means to you,” Wheelon said. “That’s something that next year’s incoming freshmen and seniors and have to keep going. They have to be able to carry on our legacy.”
