The North Thurston boys soccer team clinched its first trip to the state tournament in three years after knocking out Timberline 1-0 Saturday in a District 3 3A Tournament winner-to-state elimination game.
Timberline was on the winning end of a penalty kick shootout against Capital Thursday to advance to Saturday’s contest, and in another PK shootout for all the marbles Saturday, the Rams prevailed 4-3.
After scoreless regulation and overtime periods, which included a goal by Timberline’s Mike Navarrete wiped off the board late in the game, North Thurston started the shootout with a make from Royce Rodriguez. Goalkeeper William Doerrheim saved the Blazers’ first attempt by Malik Alawi. Each team made their next three consecutive PKs, with the game coming down to the final attempt. Leonardo Cortez nailed the fifth and final shot for North Thurston, and Timberline’s Liam Derickson sailed his shot over the bar.
“This is what we’ve been working so hard for all season. The message before the game was simple: believe in each other and take advantage of this opportunity,” North Thurston coach Tristan Glazer said. “We were not perfect throughout the season, but the boys always had belief and confidence in their ability and preparation. They deserve all the credit for fighting all season and earning the opportunity to compete in the state tournament.”
Timberline’s season ends with a 10-8-2 record and 6-3-1 mark in the Puget Sound League. The Blazers were one win away from snapping a 35-year state drought on two occasions during this district tournament run but fell short both times.
Seven seniors graduate from the program — Milton Torres Lopez, Kaden Whitelock, Malik Alawi, Sergio Aguilar Flores, Nathaniel Garrison, Mike Navarrete and Zach Lambert.
“I told the boys at the end that I was proud of them and how they fought to the end. We had many scoring chances, but we just weren’t able to put one in,” Timberline head coach Mark Towers said. “I told the boys that it was a pleasure coaching them in my first season and told the seniors ‘thank you’ for what they contributed to the program. I told the underclassmen to remember this moment because they’ll be carrying the program moving forward and taking what the current seniors have built and keep building the program up.”
North Thurston (12-3-5) will learn of its next opponent in the state tournament Sunday when the bracket is released. The opening round begins May 19 and May 20 for seeds 13 to 20, while the second round starts May 22.
