Bye Bye Birdies

Everett, WA - Who says that you cannot have two rivals?  While the Everett/Edmonds rivalry features the "T" trophy, a match up with Skagit Valley, particulary in men's soccer, almost always has everything you would want in a rivalry game.  Importance? Check.  Entering the contest, the two teams sat in 3rd and 4th place in the standings with only 6 games remaining in the season, and just the top three teams from the north earn a playoff bid.  Historical balance?  Check.  In the past three seasons in nine meetings, Everett has a slight advantage with four wins to Skagit's three, while the other two games resulted in draws.  And competitive proximity? Check.  The two schools are separated by just 33 miles of freeway, which means the two programs frequently meet in head to head recruiting battles, and most of the athletes played against each other in club soccer growing up.  Add in the fact that both coaches are in their first year, and you have a recipe for a high intensity, high stakes match.  

For the first 30 minutes of the contest, neither team yielded much to the other.  Both teams got off a couple of shots with one of them forcing the opposing keepers to make saves.  But it would be the visiting Cardinals to get on the board first when a nice pass and a one on one with the keeper beat the Trojan defense.  Trailing by a goal with fifteen minutes to play until the half, Everett applied pressure with a couple more shots on frame, forcing saves from Skagit's keeper.  Despite the chances, EvCC still went into the break down a goal.

The second half produced more quality defense from both teams and the two squads only managed one shot on goal apiece in the first 20 minutes.  The tides of the match changed in the 67th minute when Nacho Pedrosa sent a cross into the box.  It was a well placed ball that forced a Skagit defender into a tough spot, committing the foul on Juan Castillo who was airborne attempting to head the ball.  The leading goal scorer for the Trojans, River Stewart capitalized on the the ensuing penalty kick to draw the game even.  

The Cardinals threatened to reclaim the lead with back to back corner kick opportunities and a couple of free kicks from dangerous positions, but the Everett defense held strong.  Then in the 77th minute, CJ Emanuel won the ball in the attacking third and sent a beautiful pass to River Stewart in the middle of the field.  Stewart beat a defender and then delivered a shot that deflected off of another Skagit defender to beat the keeper and give the Trojans the lead.  Five minutes later, River nearly iced the game, but his missile of a shot soared just over the cross bar.  

With only minutes to play in the game, the Cardinals had a couple more chances but Everett's defense held true to preserve the home field victory. River's two goals moves his season total up to 12, which is third most in the NWAC, and the win moves Everett an important four points ahead of Skagit Valley in the standings for third place.  The Trojans will try to carry the momentum into next week, when they take on the #1 ranked, undefeated Pirates of Peninsula College.  Kickoff is set for Wednesday October 13th at 3:30pm.