WOODLAND – The parting words were the hard to hear for an emotional La Center boys soccer team, and at times, harder for head coach Reece Scragg to say.
What can you say to a senior-laden team that’s grown before Scragg’s eyes and is the second full class to come through the program under his direction as the Wildcats’ coach? The fifth-year coach recently looked at a photo from the team’s 2015 district-title winning season, only to his then-freshmen are now departing seniors.
That’s what made the 2-0 season-ending defeat Tuesday to Seattle Academy to open the Class 1A state playoffs is even harder to take.
Same went for senior Alec Watkins, a four-year varsity player and starting midfielder. Seven of the eight freshmen have been right alongside with him his entire high school career.
“I had a pleasure of playing with these dudes all four years,” he said. “To see it come to an end, it sucks a lot.”
The Wildcats’ season ends at 14-6 while the Cardinals, winners of the 2016 1A state title, make a return trip to the state quarterfinals.
Tuesday, an early goal conceded changed the tone of the game. Scragg even admitted he wasn’t sure Will Troop found the back of the net to give Seattle Academy a 1-0 lead; the crowd at Woodland’s Beaver Stadium predominately were La Center fans, yet all of a sudden, the Wildcats faced a one-goal deficit 3 minutes into the match.
Coming off its second district title in four years, and what Scragg called one of the best matches his team’s played all season, Tuesday wasn’t the ‘A’ game performance his team’s played the past three weeks, he said.
“We got caught flat footed,” Scragg said, “and they punished us.”
On another day?
“I think it could be different,” the coach added.
However, it’s not the first time that’s occurred this season. Tuesday marked the fourth match La Center’s allowed an early goal only to rally in two of the previous three matches for victories.
Yet there was no rally this time.
That quick momentum in Seattle Academy’s favor proved to be a dagger for La Center, Watkins said, even before Adrian Valentine added an insurance goal in the 47th minute.
“That set the tone,” the senior said. “It’s hard to come back when you see a team dominate the first couple of minutes like that. It instilled some fear in a lot of boys. It’s hard to get that back.”
But La Center had its chances, too. Ten minutes after Valentine made it 2-0, goalkeeper Owen Colwell stopped Watkins’ shot toward the far post 10 yards out.
Watkins, who will play at Clark College next season along with teammate Hunter Leach, and the seven seniors depart with two district titles and three state playoff appearances in four seasons and knowing they helped change the face of La Center soccer.
“This team,” he said, “they’re my brothers and we had a really good four years.”
