LACEY — Nicholas Campbell felt the Hudson’s Bay boys soccer team struck gold. Not once, but twice on a Gig Harbor program filled with a tradition-rich playoff history.
An early two-goal lead gave the Eagles momentum, confidence, and a bit of sticker shock in its 3A bi-district match that had a state berth at state.
That shock became a different kind in the second half, when the Tides scored two goals, including the game-winner with 13 minutes left in regulation for a 3-2 comeback victory at South Sound Stadium.
Jacob Gronk’s goal in the 67th minute capped the three-goal comeback after closing within 2-1 by halftime and getting the equalizer minutes into the second half. Gig Harbor (13-0-3) is back to the 3A state playoffs where it reached the state semifinals a year ago while Bay’s season ends one win shy of reaching state for the second time in school history.
Saturday, it looked like Bay (8-7-3) was well on its way to reaching state for the first time since its inaugural trip in 2008. Ten minutes in, goals by Julio Vara and Franklin Garcia put Bay up 2-0 on the South Sound Conference champions.
Not long after came a momentum change. Gig Harbor shifted to an extra attacker and it paid off — an offensive spark with Max Frank connecting to close the deficit to 2-1.
As Campbell described it, the Eagles got a bit satisfied.
“We knew it’d be a close game,” the senior striker said. “We let them control the whole second half. It was frustrating knowing we should’ve had that game and let a two-goal lead go away.”
The pressure up top kept senior goalkeeper Brian Perez on his toes.
“That intensity prepared them to attack even harder,” Perez said.
It worked. Nolan Carroll’s rebound shot quickly made it 2-2 to open the second half, and just as much as the Tides were getting chances, they also were limiting Bay’s second-half chances.
Even though Campbell and Perez, both seniors and two-year varsity players, are departing, they believe the outcome will only motivate the returning players.
“It’ll motivate a bunch of the younger guys to play much more harder, because we were so close,” Perez said. ”
Regardless, they both know it’s still a successful season despite the outcome.
“It gives the underclassmen something to fight for next season,” Campbell said. “You never know how hard it’s going to be to make the playoffs. THis helps them quite a bit moving forward.”
GIG HARBOR 3, HUDSON’S BAY 2
Hudson’s Bay
Goals (assists) — Julio Vara, Franklin Garcia
Gig Harbor
Goals (assists) — Max Frank, Nolan Carroll, Jacob Cronk.
Halftime — Bay, 2-1.
