Wildcats battle tough GP to tie | Soccer

Oak Harbor
John Fisken / Whidbey News-Times
Oak Harbor's Caleb Gatica-Cortes, center, takes control of the ball in Monday's match with Glacier Peak. Gatica-Cortes' second-half goal finished the scoring in the 1-1 tie.

By JIM WALLER
Whidbey News Times Sports editor
March 20, 2012 · Updated 12:59 PM 

Glacier Peak, one of the state's top soccer programs, got all it could handle when it visited Oak Harbor's Wildcat Memorial Stadium, Monday, March 19.

The Wildcats and Grizzlies battled to a 1-1, double-overtime draw.

Glacier Peak, which won the state title in 2010 and finished third last year, rolled by Oak Harbor 7-0 and 4-1 last spring. It was a different story Monday.

The Grizzlies got on the board first with a goal just before the break. Oak Harbor responded in the second half when Caleb Gatica-Cortes popped in "a beautiful goal," according to coach Brian Thompson.

Goalkeeper Kevin Silveira stopped eight shots to pace the Wildcats defense.

Thompson said, "All  of our players did a great job and have stepped up their game."

Oak Harbor (0-1-1) goes to Lynnwood High School to face Mountlake Terrace (0-3) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 21.

Contact Whidbey News Times Sports editor Jim Waller at jwaller@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5060.

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