The young, improving Oak Harbor High School soccer team, hoping to grab a playoff spot to brighten a long season, suffered a big blow to its post-season hopes by falling 1-0 at Lynnwood Tuesday, April 19.
The top six Wesco 3A teams advance to the district
tournament, and the Wildcats (1-11, 1-9) entered the contest in seventh, one
game back of Lynnwood. The Royal win now gives Lynnwood (3-9-1, 3-8) a two-game
edge in the win column. Oak Harbor has four matches left, Lynnwood three.
The Royals scored in the eighth minute, and although the
Wildcats mounted several scoring chances, couldn’t get the equalizer.
Oak Harbor coach Brian Thompson said, “There were several
turnovers that allowed them to gain control in the attacking third of the
field. We were not marking up well with our defensive at this time and it
resulted in them scoring.”
He added, “After that we settled in and played a good game.
We moved Michael Shevchuk and Caleb Gatica-Cortes up front to get some
different movement from the forwards and this helped. Caley Powers moved into
the center midfield with Andrew Mitchell and they did a good job of holding
down the midfield offensively and defensively.”
Lynnwood also defeated Oak Harbor in a shootout earlier this
spring.
Oak Harbor takes on Meadowdale (5-7, 4-7) Thursday, April
21, at 7:30 p.m. at Wildcat Memorial Stadium.
