Skyview’s boys’ soccer team brings a poster to every game.
On it is written all the team’s opponents and results.
The Storm left six blank spots at the bottom. Filling the poster would mean playing on the season’s final day in Puyallup.
After a 1-0 win over Union on Tuesday at McKenzie Stadium, the Storm (11-3-2, 6-2 4A GSHL) captured its second straight 4A Greater St. Helens League title, and is well on its way to some lofty aspirations.
“Every year the boys are looking to define themselves as a team,” Skyview coach Colleen McKinney said. “They’re trying to build something to pass on to the next generation. I think that’s the wonderful aspect of winning league.”
Tuesday’s game didn’t come without its quirks. Two high-octane offenses, that put up seven goals the last time they came together, mustered just one. Even that wasn’t a natural chance.
In the 63rd minute, Skyview senior Nino Feroglia sent in a driven ball into the penalty area. A Union defender jumped to head it out of danger. Instead it lofted into the Titans’ own net. It was the game’s decider.
“I saw my player going through and thought I’d hit it over the defender,” said Feroglia, describing the play. “It was a little short and he just tipped it over and it went in. That’s the game. We got lucky and we put it in.”
Dylan De Baldo made sure of that on the other end, coming up with eight saves including some big ones on Union’s Arthur Jeanmarie, who was the most dangerous player through most of the game. He had several big chances, including one in the 68th minute that found the net but was whistled for offside.
Fourteen minutes earlier, the Titans (7-6-3, 4-3-1) again had a gut-wrenching offside call after Sebastian Iniguez-Aceval pounded home a rebound only to have it called back post-celebration.
“I think we worked really hard to create opportunities for ourselves,” Union coach Jason Moore said. “We lacked the focus to put the ball where it needs to go. You can out-play a team; you can out-possess a team; you can create more chances. But if you don’t score…”
The Storm’s defense held, despite immense pressure from the Titans, who will play a loser-out game on May 7 at Ingersoll Stadium.
De Baldo and the backline knew a shutout would seal a title — and May 9 loser-out district date — regardless of what the offense did on the other end. It’s not a scenario common for those tasked with keeping the ball out of the net.
“It’s definitely a lot of pressure, especially in the second half looking right at the game clock,” De Baldo said. “You do a lot of looking at the game clock.”
Skyview’s second straight title is one to celebrate, and one that helps establish a path for future teams to build around, McKinney said.
Even if this year’s squad isn’t done defining itself.
