Eugene, OR - While power was going out throughout Snohomish County due to a severe windstorm, the Men's Soccer team had just pulled in to Eugene, OR to settle in and try to get some sleep in preparation for the biggest game of the year to this point. As the #3 seed from the North Region (ranked 4th in the NWAC coaches poll) would have to battle through the first two rounds of the NWAC playoffs on the road. Coming off two days rest after defeating Tacoma CC 3-0, the Trojans faced #1 out of the South Lane Titans who enjoyed a week off from their last match with a first round playoff bye, and proud owners of a 9-3-2 overall record, one of their best in recent program history.
The Quarterfinal match started with a break neck pace as Everett fired off three shots on goal within the first ten minutes of the match requiring Lane's keeper to be active early. But in a quick twist it would be the home Titans who would get the first goal of the match in the 14th minute off of a corner kick header. EvCC was not to be discouraged and two minutes later, the Trojans drew a foul at the top of the 18 yard box. Leading goal scorer River Stewart took the free kick from about 25 yards out and bent it beautifully over the wall of defenders and just inside the upper left corner of the goal to draw the game even at 1-1.
Intensity of the match ensued with protest to the referee from both teams about calls or no calls, but both teams held strong, especially Everett who withstood a late half surge, forcing Avary Olson to make two big saves before the first half whistle.
Lane started out the second half with a quick goal scored just two minutes in when a ball crossed low did not get cleared and found a Lane foot. The shot was deflected off of a Trojan defender and into to goal to put Lane back on top. As the match went on Everett had few opportunities to get off quality shots, as the Lane defense bunkered down withstanding any retaliation goals. With time fleeting and in response to another Avary Olson save, the Trojans found the equalizer in the 83rd minute, again scored by River Stewart.
With just a few minutes left in regulation, Avary Olson came up with a huge save to keep the game tied, and eventually put the game into overtime. The first ten minutes did not yield a goal, but shortly into the second period of sudden victory, Whosayn Al-Azadi got off a shot at that was deflected and found once again River Stewart who put it home, sending EvCC to the NWAC semi finals for the first time since 1989. Everett outshot the Titans 9-6, and Avary Olson came up clutch with 4 big saves. For River, the three goals brings his season total to 29, shattering the single season goal scoring record at EvCC, and ranking him 3rd highest in the past 20 years in the NWAC. Stewart was recently named North Region MVP along with teammate Avary Olson who was also named first team all north region. Sophomores Liam Raney and Victor Aguilar were named honorable mention along with freshman Emmanuel Escalante who holds the single season assist record at EvCC with 12.
Individual accolades are nice, but the ultimate prize for the Trojans await later this week with a trip to the Semi-finals at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila. Everett will take on the heavily favorited Columbia Basin Hawks at 4:00pm on Friday, November 11th. The Trojans have not seen CBC yet this season, and last faced the Hawks back in 2019 in a quarter-final match that ended in a 1-1 draw and was ultimately decided after an epic 13 rounds of penalty kicks. Columbia Basin came out on top in that match but lost in the semi-finals to Tacoma. This year's Columbia Basin team boasts a 12-3-0 record out of the east region as the number one seed, and defeated Whatcom 4-0 on their home turf last weekend in their quarter-final match up. Leading scorer for CBC, Johnny Ramirez has a goal and two assists in each of their last two games. Despite their prowess the Hawks have shown vulnerability losing 1-0 to Wenatchee Valley, 2-1 to Blue Mountain and 2-1 to Spokane this season.