Issaquah had Marysville-Pilchuck against the ropes Saturday — in a spot the Tomahawks haven’t been all season. The Eagles couldn’t deliver the knockout blow, however, falling 3-2 in a state-quarterfinal shootout at Lake Stevens.
Issaquah jumped out to a 2-0 lead over undefeated M-P in the first 15 minutes. The Tomahawks hadn’t trailed by more than one goal all season.
“We got off to a great start,” Issaquah head coach Jason Lichtenberger said. “We came out with a lot of heart, a lot of fire a lot of energy.”
Quinn Grisham tacked on Issaquah’s first goal in the 9th minute on a long shot, via an assist from Connor Holmes.
Grisham returned the favor in the 15th minute tapping a pass to Holmes who headed in his third goal in three games.
The Tomahawks wasted no time battling back, however.
Just four minutes later, John Crenshaw, who had 20 goals coming into the contest, knocked in M-P’s first score.
“They played a long ball over the top to him and it was a nice finish,” Lichtenberger said.
Issaquah held the lead until the 68th minute when the Tomahawk’s Brady Ballew knotted the game via an assist from Seth Jones.
Both teams received opportunities in the final 12 minutes of regulation and two 5-minute overtime periods, but neither capitalized sending the contest into a shootout.
Marysville scored on all five of its opportunities. Issaquah’s second shooter Lucas Morais had his shot stopped on a diving save by the Tomahawk goalkeeper. When Marysville punched in its fifth shot, it sealed the win. Grisham, Junpei Tsuji and Carter Mitchell scored goals for the Eagles, who ended their season with a 13-6-2 record. The last two seasons Issaquah had only won a combined three games.
“It was a great season,” Lichtenberger said. “It’s always hard to reflect on it right away. It’s just frustrating because I felt like we were playing our best soccer of the year, the kind of soccer I felt could have won a state championship.”
Marysville moved on to face South Kitsap this Friday at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood. The winner of that game will face the winner of Woodinville-Pasco for the 4A state championship.
