In three previous trips to the Class 2A district playoffs, the Hockinson boys soccer team’s season ended the same way — with a loss to Aberdeen.
So when the Hawks found themselves one win away from their first trip to the 2A state tournament, who stood in their way? The Aberdeen Bobcats.
After the game remained a scoreless tie through 80 minutes of regulation and two overtime periods, Shawn Marion converted on Hockinson’s sixth shot in the penalty kick shootout and Shamele Battan made the game-winning save on Aberdeen’s final shot, securing a 1-0 win for Hockinson.
“The jinx is broken,” Hockinson coach Vic Oenning said.
Hockinson (17-3) will open the 2A state tournament on Tuesday on the road against Evergreen of Seattle.
After winning the 2A Greater St. Helens League regular-season title, Hockinson had to advance to state through the consolation bracket after losing to Centralia 2-1 on Tuesday.
The Hawks beat Tumwater 1-0 on Thursday before Saturday’s win over Aberdeen.
“It was a really good show of resilience by the guys,” Oenning said. “We had to do it the hard way, by playing those extra games when every game is sudden death. But hopefully this will help get us prepared for what’s ahead of us.”
Oenning said Hockinson played one of its best games of the year for quality of touches and possession, but the Hawks struggled to finish against the Aberdeen goalkeeper Gilberto Martinez.
“They have a very good goalkeeper,” Oenning said. “He’s a big, tall, lanky guy. And we couldn’t keep the ball on the pitch as much as we wanted on our shots.”
Oenning credited Jarren Parthemer and the Hockinson midfielders with controlling the tempo of play as the Hawks recorded their 12th shutout of the season.
Parthemer, Langdon Roscoe, Cotter Hamilton and Battan all converted on the penalty kick shootout.
Battan had four saves during regulation and overtime, and stopped Aberdeen’s first and sixth shots during the shootout.
