The East Valley boys soccer squad saw its season cut short in the opening round of the Class 2A state tournament, dropping a 2-1 decision to Sehome after a penalty shootout.
A Tough Loss in the State Tournament
Sehome struck first, with Mason Ivcevic opening the scoring in the fifth minute, but East Valley answered back when Isaac Gutierrez leveled the match in the 56th minute, the goal set up by Jace Cuevas.
Goalkeepers were busy, as Sehome’s Bane Mitchell turned away six shots while East Valley’s Angel Lopez made four saves and even stopped the first penalty in the shootout.
The shootout itself produced a flurry of chances, with Cuevas and Romeo Olivas finding the net for East Valley, but Sehome’s composure secured a 4-2 victory.
Coach Todd Morrow praised Cuevas for his leadership and skill, noting the team’s defensive resilience that had shut out eleven opponents throughout the year.
Toppenish also saw its campaign end, falling 4-2 to Nathan Hale, a result that capped a 12-7-1 season; Kristian Iniguez had put Nathan Hale ahead in each half.