Goal To Go Saxon Soccer Squad In Pursuit Of State Title

The Ferris soccer team has one goal down. And one more to go.

The Saxons finished the Greater Spokane League season undefeated, posting a 16-0 record, and are determined to finish their quest to be the creme de la creme of Washington state high school soccer.

“We had a goal-setting session at the beginning of the year, and winning state was our last goal,” said senior midfielder Pat Hull.

“This was a steppingstone,” team captain Brent Mulsberry said of winning the GSL.

Ferris and the remaining four teams - Mead, North Central, Lewis and Clark, and Shadle Park - will compete at the District Championships on Tuesday at Ferris.

Saxon coach Robin Crain believes his team is peaking at the right time.

“We’re playing so well right now,” he said. To improve, Crain said, the team will fine-tune some aspects of its game.

One thing the team agrees on is that the entire season has been about working together; everybody made a contribution.

“Everybody has a leadership role out there,” said Mulsberry.

Mulsberry doesn’t believe that as captain he carries signficantly more responsibility than his teammates.

“It’s not much more than anybody else. You do what you can out there on the field,” he said. Hull has been pleased with the effort by all the players on the team, especially goalkeeper Tommy Servine and defender Billy Sleth. He has enjoyed playing for this year’s Saxon team.

“I’ve liked it a lot,” he said. “I feel comfortable passing (the ball) to anyone on the team.

“Billy has really led the defense,” he added. “I think all the seniors have stepped up a lot this year.”

The coach has had only one frustration.

“The only thing that’s tough for me,” said Crain, “is standing on the sidelines.” Crain would prefer to be watching the team from higher up to get a better view of how his team has been executing plays.

Maybe Ferris opponents felt they were watching from the sidelines at times, too.

, DataTimes