Seton Catholic boys soccer coach Amanda Chase had a simple message for her team following a 1-0 loss to Toledo-Winlock: “I’m proud of you.”
And why not? Take away the scoreline, which gave United (10-0-4, 10-0 1A Trico) its third 1A Trico title in four years, and the Cougars’ 80 minutes on home turf Thursday evening was a glowing review of how far they’ve come in the past year.
“That’s the best collective 80 minutes we’ve played all year,” Chase said. “It was so great to watch.”
The Cougars (10-2, 8-2) were deprived of a goal for the first time all season, but it wasn’t without chances. Seton Catholic tested the Toledo-Winlock backline more than any team has all season.
Freshman midfielder David Moore was masterful in finding his wings in dangerous positions and Jetszael Meza-Gonzalez and Conner Coffey delivered threatening cross one after the other.
The most dangerous opportunity came off a 57th-minute corner kick, when Samuel Niehaus headed a ball off the crossbar.
United goalie Alan Contreras was forced to make seven saves, several of them difficult.
“It shows we can keep up with the best in the state,” Seton senior Seth Moore said. “It shows us we’re a good team and we can go places.”
Toledo-Winlock coach Horst Malunat, who coached at Skyview and Clark College in the early-2000s, echoed Moore’s beliefs.
“After this season, I think our chapter kind of ends and their chapter begins,” Malunat said. “I really think this is the team of the future.”
United was happy to keep it in the future, as it relied on the experience of extended postseason runs the past four years to earn the result. Andreas Malunat pounded home a 64th-minute goal on an assist from Thomas Ethridge on a counter attack for the game’s only goal.
It’s a mistake the Cougars hope to learn from if they see United again in the district playoffs.
Seton Catholic will enter the postseason as Trico’s No. 2 seed and will host Evergreen Conference’s No. 3 on May 6. Coach Malunat expects the Cougars to meet them again in the distric championship scheduled for May 11 at King’s Way Christian.
The key for the Cougars to advance there will be their response to Thursday’s defeat heading into Tuesday’s road game with Stevenson.
After watching her seniors encourage some of Seton’s budding stars after the game, Chase knows the setback won’t last long.
“It’s all you want as a coach,” she said of the seniors’ actions. “No matter what the score is, if that’s happening out there, I’m happy with them. They’re wonderful people and wonderful role models for their teammates.”
