EV overcomes Ferris, runs unbeaten mark to 9-0

The performance, said East Valley soccer coach Jeff Rose, wasn’t his East Valley team’s finest hour. But the Knights did what it took, making good on their one scoring chance in a second half otherwise dominated by visiting Ferris, to win 2-1.

The significance of the victory, which moved the league’s unbeaten leaders (9-0) five points ahead of their nearest challengers, was not lost on Knights goalkeeper Josh Peck.

“We have a tough week and this was one of the biggest games of the season for us,” said Peck, who was magnificent in goal once again. “If we had lost we would have been down a point. Now if we lose (a game) I think that we’re still in good shape.”

Four matches remain in the season for GSL teams.

Peck said he did not want a repeat of last year’s 5-3 loss and hoped to avoid corner kicks against a Saxons team that victimized him from there last year.

“I think they mostly score a lot off corner kicks,” he said. “I think that is their main attack.”

But he did admit to nerves when Ferris kept the ball in EV’s end virtually the entire second half, in part because of play by Tom Giardino and Joe Hatcher, forcing him to either punch out or grab numerous shots in traffic, including several corner kick.

He wound up making nine saves, while at other times defender Josh Polello would head shot attempts out of harm’s way.

“It was about trying to win every one because they put the ball across the mouth of the goal every time,” Peck said.

The Saxons struck quickly in the game, scoring at three minutes off a throw-in by Galen Brooks. The ball was pushed into an open goal by Connor Hennessey.

But the Knights got even nine minutes later when Cole Abramson, off a pass by Ben Funkhouser, beat keeper D.J. Bray, who had come out to challenge.

“I think he got caught,” said Rose, “and didn’t know whether to come out or get back.”

The score remained deadlocked until the 67th minute of the 80-minute match.

Then Polello, like Brooks a valuable offensive weapon with his strong sideline throwing ability, set up the winning score.

Polello said his job is to throw it in where someone can flick it, or perhaps go in the goal. Rose said because Polello’s throws are almost like a corner kick, EV sets up its offense accordingly.

He tossed the ball to Dino Valdez, who flicked it across the goal to Matt Eatock, who touched it to Marcus Intinarelli for an easy look.

“They just got it through to the far post,” said Saxons coach Robin Crain. “It landed on the kid’s foot and he just had to pass it into the net. Had we been marking on the far post he doesn’t get the goal.”

Crain said that except for the early EV goal, he felt Ferris dominated the game.

“The early goal kind of set us back for the rest of the first half,” he said. “But we battled back into it and just couldn’t put the ball in the net.”

EV coach Rose didn’t disagree.

“We didn’t play all that well today,” he said. “But the guys won and got the result, so that was important.”

The Knights have 27 points, while the Saxons and Cheney (both 7-2, with a shootout loss worth a point) share second place with 22 points.

Mead (8-1, 21 points) and Central Valley (6-3, 19 points) are next. The Knights are at the Blackhawks on Wednesday, at Lewis and Clark (5-4, 17 points) on Friday and end the season next week at home against CV’s Bears.

In other matches, the host Cheney Blackhawks blanked Mt. Spokane (4-5) 4-0, scoring twice in each half. Mitch Weller scored 10 minutes into the contest and again early in the second half. He also assisted on a goal. Jesse Retan had a pair of assists and Ben Parker added a goal and an assist. The Blackhawks outshot the Wildcats 19-5. … Mead also won at home, 6-1 over West Valley, as Aaron Malmoe scored a hat trick and also had an assist. Andy Stulc scored a goal and added an assist. The Panthers have the second most wins in league, but fewer points because of three shootout wins. Standings are based on a point system with a regulation or overtime win worth three points, a shootout win worth two and shootout loss worth one. The Eagles goal was by team season scoring leader Neil Bachman.

Speaking of shootouts, North Central (6-3) beat Central Valley in one, 2-1. Greg Conley’s penalty kick was the decider, the Indians making four to the Bears’ three. CV was involved in its third shootout, two of them losses. The Bears scored early on Jesse Dunbar’s direct kick from 45 yards out. Matt Stockinger tied the game at 67 minutes. … In another shootout, University goalkeeper Clint Moquist stopped every Lewis and Clark penalty kick attempt and the Titans (4-5) beat the Tigers 3-2. It was the GSL’s eighth shootout decision this season. It was the Titans’ first win after two such defeats. Bryce Burchak assisted on a goal and scored with 10 minutes left to put U-Hi up 2-0. LC scored twice in the game’s last eight minutes, tying on Michael Mastor’s goal.

Shadle Park (3-6) more than doubled its league season goal total with an 8-1 home victory over Clarkston (1-8). Jake Krueger scored the Highlanders’ first two goals and added an assist. Dane Dezellem had a goal and two assists. … Gonzaga Prep’s (2-7) Matt Wakeley scored a goal and added two assists for a 3-2 win over visiting Rogers (0-9). The Pirates made things interesting, including sendint out goalkeeper Justin Erickson to take a penalty kick.