PUYALLUP – Even in its 19th game of the season, the Union Titans still found ways to surprise their head coach.
After all, first-year coach Jason Moore has seen it from his Titans most of the season. That’s why it’s no surprise his team rallied to go toe-to-toe with Todd Beamer, the defending Class 4A state champion, only to fall in overtime, 5-4, in Saturday’s bi-district winner-to-state boys soccer game.
“It hurts so badly because I want it for them,” Moore said.
Moore might be a first-year coach, but isn’t a stranger to the program. An ex-longtime under Kelcey Burris, Moore took over this season and implemented a new style.
But it took time to adjust. A 1-6-3 start through 10 matches wasn’t ideal, but the turnaround quickly came to eventually reach Saturday’s winner-to-state, loser-out contest at Sparks Stadium. Union went unbeaten in six of its previous eight games.
“I challenged them to play a new system, to do different things and to pay attention to details they never considered,” Moore said. “They saw that those were the differences.”
Zak Gregg’s second goal of the game 30 seconds into overtime sealed the win for Beamer of Federal Way. It advances to the 4A state tournament while the loss ends Union’s season at 6-9-4.
Against a Beamer team known for its defense, Union’s four goals is the most allowed by Beamer all season.
It was all Beamer (12-4-3) at the start, though. It controlled the opening 15 minutes with three corner kicks and two shots on goal. By the time Union settled in, the offense came in a flurry.
The final six minutes of the first half featured four goals; Beamer’s 1-0 lead eventually became a 3-2 advantage for Union by halftime. Aidan McGinty assisted Charlie Caplice’s goal on a give-and-go off a free kick in the 36th minute, and McGinty followed that up a minute later with a goal that gave Union a 3-2 halftime lead.
Union found its footing with Moore barking out directions on the sideline.
“Like they have all year,” Moore said, “they started implementing suggestions. … The game opened up and they began to believe.”
Union led 3-2 and 4-3. The game had four ties, five lead changes and neither team led by more than one goal. Diego Sanchez-Alvarez of Beamer tied it at 4-4 in the 68th minute, and Beamer nearly netted the game-winner 10 minutes later, but the shot 5 yards out was just high and wide of the net.
Moore credits the seniors for being the catalyst to his buy-in, and hence, helping turn Union’s season around.
“I couldn’t be happier for them; I wish I had the seniors back,” Moore said. “When they bought in,” he said, “the rest of the team bought in.”
