Sometimes exploring new places can be scary. Just ask the ball used in Saturday’s boys soccer match between Skyview and Lake Stevens.
For 39 minutes, it avoided going in the back of the net, but it once it got there — it discovered it liked it quite a bit.
The Storm downed Lake Stevens 3-0 in the 4A state quarterfinals at Kiggins Bowl despite needing almost an entire half to get on the board.
Once it did, however, there was little disputing who had the better team.
“I feel like we did a good job holding them and controlling them for a long time,” Lake Stevens coach Kit Shanholtzer said. “But after a while, the better-skilled team is going to win.”
Skyview’s first goal came shortly after Storm forward Austin Horner was taken out in the penalty box, which set up a penalty kick by Cole Howard that gave his team a 1-0 lead.
Skyview coach Jenn Johnson said that first goal was critical because, contrary to the way most teams operate, the Storm find it much harder to find that adrenaline rush when playing at home versus the road.
However, once Skyview found that initial advantage, all players seemed to want to do was widen it.
Coming off a hat trick in his last performance, Storm midfielder Carter Johnson was perfectly content setting up the goals this time around.
Leading a counter-attack in the match’s 62nd minute, the sophomore passed the ball Horner, who slipped it past the Lake Stevens goalkeeper to put the Storm ahead 2-0.
About four minutes later, Skyview forward Garrett Bredy, also a sophomore, took a pass from Johnson and connected on a goal from about 15 yards to make it 3-0.
“It was definitely a charge,” said Johnson. “I like playing these teams that can give us a run for our money. A hat trick last game, and two assists this game, I’m feeling confident.”
Skyview will meet the Davis/Central Valley winner in Puyallup on Friday.
If Lake Stevens seemed out of rhythm on the field, it was even more so on the ride up.
The Vikings’ bus broke down in Federal Way, causing the match to be delayed approximately 30 minutes to allow Lake Stevens to warm up.
Ideal? Not so much. But…
“No excuses,” Shanholtzer said. “They were good. Dang it, they were good.”
