Elijah Lavin might be new to Evergreen boys soccer, but he’s anything but new to the sport.
The midfielder is only a sophomore, and turning out for high school soccer this spring for the first time is a decision he happily made.
Now that Evergreen’s back in the state quarterfinals, winning its first state game in 16 years behind a 3-0 shutout of Shorecrest to open the Class 3A state playoffs Wednesday, he wouldn’t change it for anything.
“I’m super happy,” he said, “and happy to be with this team.”
And it’s not over, either. Evergreen (12-2-4) travels to face Lakeside of Seattle, a 5-1 winner over Tacoma’s Stadium High in its first-round match, in Saturday’s quarterfinal in Seattle. Time of the match will be announced Thursday.
Evergreen’s last appearance in the state quarterfinals came in 2002 — the last year the program won a state playoff game — about four years before goalkeeper Gabe Domingo began watching his future high school program play as a youngster. His key saves Wednesday helped end Evergreen’s 16-year state playoff winning drought. The program was 0-3 in first-round games in 2006, ’07 and ’10.
“I’ve been watching Evergreen for 12 years now,” Domingo said, “and it’s nice to be in it.”
Evergreen enters Saturday’s quarterfinal unbeaten in its past nine matches, and its scoring tandem of Levan Zhividze and Lavin, the sophomore, is a major factor. Lavin’s 18 goals is second-most on the team, and his assists Wednesday on goals by Zhividze in the second half’s opening 10 minutes broke the scoreless tie.
The duo now has a combined 42 goals, including 24 and counting by Zhividze, the 3A Greater St. Helens League MVP. Although this is their first year on the pitch together, their familiarity with one another isn’t new.
Lavin and Zhividze both play for Washington Timbers FC, and always find ways to practice despite being on separate teams.
“The great chemistry between us,” Lavin said, “and we’re always looking for each other.”
They did Wednesday, too. Zhividze’s goals in the 46th and 50th minutes broke open the scoring. Jaan Aguilar’s goal on a free kick in the 72nd minute made it a three-goal cushion.
“We can really turn on the jets,” Lavin said. “We have a strong start, but once we put in that first goal … we look for that goal and keep driving for another.”
That has the confidence all the higher for Saturday.
“Everyone thinks there’s a ceiling for us,” Lavin added, “but I think we can go right through it.”
