Playoff soccer is nothing new for the Clark College men’s team.
The Penguins have made the playoffs in each of Biniam Afenegus’ seven seasons as coach, including a 2007 championship and a runner-up finish last season.
But when Clark hosts Skagit Valley today in the Northwest Athletic Conference quarterfinals — kickoff is at 6 p.m. at McKenzie Stadium — it will be a new experience for most of the Penguins.
All but two of the Clark players are freshmen. The roster does not have any players from Clark County. Most are from the greater Portland area, but players from Florida and even Brazil are contributing.
Despite the youth and diversity on the roster, Clark dominated the South Division of the NWAC, going 10-0-3 in league play and 15-2-3 overall. That earned the Penguins a bye into the quarterfinals. Skagit Valley, the second-place team from the North, beat Wenatchee Valley 2-0 on Tuesday to reach Saturday’s match.
Sophomore team captain Abdiel Morfin — a South-West Region NWAC all-star last season — said he isn’t surprised by the success. It helps that he and some of the freshmen were youth soccer teammates at the Eastside Timbers in Portland. But all of the freshmen have played very competitive soccer, he said.
Morfin and freshman central midfielder Octavio Hermosillo, for example, both played with Portland Timbers Youth Academy teams while in high school.
“Once we started building chemistry, there really weren’t any hard obstacles. We were able to manage things and get first place pretty easily,” Morfin said.
Last season, Clark rode the NWAC’s most productive offense to the brink of its second title under Afenegus. This season, defense has carried the Penguins. Their 15 shutouts in 20 matches are six more than any other team and their nine goals allowed are fewest in the NWAC.
“That says a lot about our backline and how we work together,” said Morfin, the backline leader at center back. “I feel like in the back we have good chemistry.”
Jacob Young from Gresham, Ore., starts alongside Morfin in the center of the defense. Eric Zechenelly of Portland, the team’s other sophomore, starts at left back. He is headed to Montana State to run track. Brady Bendell from Yakima and Tyler Barr of Boise share right back. McKay Owsley and Miguel Perez-Flores have played goalkeeper.
Clark’s 72 goals last season was second most in the NWAC, behind only champion Peninsula. This season, the Penguins’ 47 goals rank fourth in the NWAC.
“We’re good at defending, so we have the ball a lot,” said Hermosillo, whose nine goals are tied for the team lead with Ian Schimandle from Cheney. “What I try to do is control the tempo of the game and where my team is going.”
If Clark is going to advance to the NWAC semifinals, young players are going to have to perform with the savvy and confidence of veterans, Morfin said.
The intensity and the passion for the game grows (in the playoffs) because it could be the last game that you play. That’s always in the back of your head,” Morfin said.
His advice?
“Just live in the moment and enjoy every second of it. I’m sure with all of the adrenaline and everything going on around them, they’ll know what to do.”
Note
There is no admission charge for Saturday’s match, though a donation at the gate is encouraged.
