CAMAS — For the second year in a row, the Camas boys soccer season came to a stunning end on the turf at Doc Harris Stadium.
On Wednesday, a battle between two of the top-rated teams in the state was decided when Snohomish’s Thomas McKeown scored in the 91st minute to lift the Panthers to a 2-1 win the first round of the Class 4A state tournament.
“Absolutely devastating,” said Camas midfielder Toby Pizot, who scored the Camas goal in the second half.
McKeown said he was already thinking about penalty kicks, and about the cramps in both of his legs, when the ball bounced his way with room to shoot.
“I just tried to get good contact, get over the ball, keep it low,” McKeown said. “My coach told me to pop outside the 18 to get those balls that pop back out. It did and I was lucky enough to finish it.”
That goal ended Camas’ 18th-consecutive state tournament appearance. The Papermakers finished with 17 wins, two losses and a tie. Snohomish (15-1-4) advances to face Skyline in a quarterfinal that features the top two teams in this week’s USA Today-National Soccer Coaches Association state rankings. Camas was ranked third in that poll, making for a powerhouse corner of the Class 4A state bracket.
The winning play started with Snohomish taking a throw-in as the second overtime reached the allotted five minutes. The Panthers tried to generate a scoring chance from the right side of the penalty area. The Camas defense shut down that threat but couldn’t clear the danger. McKeown’s shot was a low drive that found the inside of the right post.
“It was a good year. Nothing we can do about it,” Camas senior Bennett Lehner said. “It was the last kick of the game. It just went their way.”
A year ago, Camas lost when Tahoma scored in the first minute of overtime at Doc Harris to win 1-0 in the opening round of the state tournament.
“When you get to this level everybody can play,” Camas coach Roland Minder said. “So it just comes down to who outworks the other guy, who profits from the set plays, who does the things it takes to get the win. It’s the game we all love and hate at the same time.”
Snohomish loved the start of Wednesday’s match. In the third minute, Eric Jones scored from a scramble in front of goal that started from a long throw-in by Griffin Miller.
With the early lead, the Panthers continued to pressure Camas all over the field, making it difficult for the Papermakers to connect passes.
Camas had more of the play in the second half after Minder shifted his midfield formation to move an extra midfielder forward and instructed his attacking midfielders to give more support to Lehner.
Playing at forward, Lehner was man marked throughout the game by Jordan Miller, with second and third Panthers coming to defend Lehner when he got the ball.
Lehner said it was the first time all season he’s been defended so tightly.
“I could have gone and walked in the goal and I think (Miller) would have followed me straight in there. I could have gone to the store and he would have followed me,” Lehner said.
Lehner did get one touch on the ball inside the 18 in the first half and force a save from Snohomish goalkeeper Cameron Beardsley. And the Camas goal started with Lehner taking a free kick 24 yards from goal.
Instead of shooting. Lehner passed the ball to an unmarked Danny Wing to the left of the penalty area and Wing sent a cross into a crowded 6-yard box. Pizot found enough space to score from in close with his left foot.
Camas pushed hard for a second goal. The Papermakers attempted eight shots (three on goal) in the second half while limiting the Panthers to two off-target shots.
“Right now it hurts. And it should or it wouldn’t mean anything,” Minder said. “But being co-league and district champion and 18th time to state, there are a lot of accomplishments that the team can be proud of.”
