Trojans Knock off #3 Highline

Tukwila, WA - Men's Soccer enters the 2024 season ranked #4 in the NWAC preseason coaches poll and even garnered national attention ranked #11 in the United Soccer Coaches Association poll.  EvCC advanced to the NWAC quarterfinals last season and has sights set even higher in 2024.  The new year started with an incredible test against NWAC powerhouse Highline College, preseason ranked #3 and NWAC runners up last season.  The pace was fast and furious in the early goings and it would only take ten minutes before EvCC would see their first goal of 2024. Local product out of Mariner High School Juan Martinez got one past the keeper to give EvCC the early lead.  Highline found the equalizer 16 minutes later, and it would remain deadlocked for the next 50 minutes of the match.  Freshman goalkeeper Paddy Murphy out of London, England made key saves to keep the score even and in the 76th minute another freshman who prepped locally at Marysville Pilchuck High School scored the go ahead goal that would secure the win for Everett.  Murphy ended the match with 6 saves.

Less than 15 hours later, EvCC was back on the pitch, this time taking on Chemeketa CC out of Salem, OR.  EvCC struck fast again, scoring in the 5th minute. Yet another local freshman got his first collegiate goal, this one by Caleb Villalpando (Snohomish HS), the assist coming from Jaston Grey a transfer from Northwest University.  Chemeketa got the goal back just before the half and it would be a 1-1 tie going into the half.  However early on in the second half EvCC drew a penalty kick, taken by sophomore captain Cristiano Whitaker.  Whitaker neatly put it in the back of the net to give Everett the 2-1 lead and his 21st career goal.  The Trojan defense was not strongly tested but keeper Domingo Gallegos recorded 3 saves and allowed just the one goal. 

Everett has just one day off before a road match against South Puget Sound on Friday afternoon, followed by the first home match of the season on Saturday, August 24th against Centralia.