Nisqually League

Cruisers Can't Keep Up

  April 29, 2006 - Eatonville

     In a WASL delayed match between the Cruisers from Eatonville and the league leading Wolves from Sequim, the boys from the Blue Hole put 5 first half holes in the back of the Cruiser net and coasted to victory.  The win put Sequim at 8-0 atop the Nisqually League and set up a Tuesday showdown between 8-1 Port Townsend for the title.

     Eatonville's starting goalkeeper was out clamming, so fill-in Forest Miranda got to see League leading scorer Kai Antrim add his 15th goal to open the scoring, finishing a rebound off the post from a Noah Brasher shot.  On 19 minutes the Wolves doubled their lead after Luke Shearer sent in a cross from the left.  Antrim got to the ball in the air at the left post and headed it to the right and a streaking CJ Clark.  Clark made no mistake and the lead was 2-0.  Jeff Catton nearly identically duplicated Clarks feat 6 minutes later, finishing Antrims flick header off Clark's cross from the left.  Antrim then made it 4-0 on 32 minutes, picking up a keeper fumble of a long Catton free kick.  Mason Harwell completed the scoring 5 minutes before the half with a super volley finish cutting in from the left after Andy Chinn dribbled through 4 defenders, got to the right end line and sent in a lovely cross.

     The second half contained some of the nicest soccer seen all year from the Wolves.  Ball movement, nice multi-pronged attacking and stifling defense never led to another goal , but left coach Brasher saying, "Nice, nice, NICE......

Get ready PT.

Cougars Tamed 4-1

Beautiful 4th Goal Sets Standard

April 25, 2006, Bonney Lake HS

     The Wolves moseyed in to brand new Bonney Lake H.S. Stadium on Tuesday to battle the Cougars from Cascade Christian.  The Wolves started slow, as they have in the last few games, giving up a breakaway to freshman Bryan Ide in the 5^th minute.  Tyler Linderoth started the messy situation with a giveaway near midfield.  Cascade grabbed the opportunity and sent the ball through to Ide who broke past a stabbing Ike Berg and got in alone on keeper Josh Lindsey.  Lindsey was unable to stop the low shot to his left and the Cougars were up 1-0.

     Slowly adapting to the wide turf field, the Wolves began to probe the Cascade defense with crosses and deep balls.  Christoph Schneider spotted Noah Brasher on the left and hit him with a nice cross.  Noah took a few touches and knocked it across to CJ Clark who popped it past the Cougar netminder and a 1-1 tie.  2 minutes before the half, Linderoth juked a defender on the right side, dribbled to the end line and sent a ball across the middle.  Trevor Oyer took a whack at it and it ended up at Kai Antrim’s feet with his back to the goal.  Antrim, with the ghost of Richard Baylon in his head, backheeled the ball toward the net from the 6 yard line.  The ball rolled neatly into the left corner and the Wolves were up 2-1.

            The 2^nd half was all Wolves, with much better ball movement and a higher work- rate.  Brasher got on the end of a Jeff Catton corner kick with a nice header that put Sequim up 3-1.  Catton had 4 or 5 money corners with Andy Chinn and Greg Dunbar putting nice headers on goal that forced good saves from the CC keeper.  The final goal was a beauty beginning with a Catton drop to Lindsey, a swing to Luke Shearer on the left, a 1-2 with Chinn down the left side, a switch from Chinn to Antrim on the right who sent Linderoth to the right corner with flick header, who crossed it to an open CJ for the sweet finish, 4-1.

Bulldogs Game but Lame

2nd Half Sequim Dominates North Mason 7-2

April 21, 2006, Sequim

     The pre-game plan was to work on setting the tone with high pressure and working on good defense.  A lacksidaisical opening 10 minutes and a defensive breakdown led to the Bulldogs opening the scoring when shifty Francisco Santiago broke through the left side and popped a shot past Josh Lindsey and off the post.  Unmarked striker Juan Agilar was there to tap it in and put the ‘Dogs up 1-0.  So much for the pre-game planning……  Kai Antrim then went to work slipping his way free in the middle, dribbling past the last defender and tucking it to the right of the keeper to knot the score at 1.  Noah Brasher then took a pass from Trevor Oyer, cut into the 18 and was hacked down.  Noah converted the PK with an easy push to the right corner and a 2-1 lead.  But the Bulldogs weren’t finished and at the 30 minute mark Juan Agilar pasted a sweet shot from the right side that found the upper corner past Lindsey and a 2-2 tie.  Antrim continued to work and took a throw-in from Andy Chinn, beat the left defender and slotted his second goal 8 minutes before halftime.

     The tight first half woke up the Wolves as they clamped down on D and wore down the overmatched Bulldogs.  Kai completed his hat trick after a great release pass from Chinn and 10 minutes later was hauled down in the box for what turned out to be Noah’s 2^nd PK goal.  Tyler Gilstrom got into the act tapping in a great pass from Brasher and Tyler Linderoth had a superlative individual effort in, out, around and back through the North Mason defense capped with a lovely finish to round out a 7-2 finish.

Wolves Nip Cardinals

  March 20, 2006 - Sequim Stadium

The Wolves went into Orting for an early season showdown of league unbeaten.  The Wolves were early out of the gate with opportunities by Kai Antrim and Andy Chinn.  At 30 minutes, Tyler Linderoth took the ball at the 35 yd line, played a nice 1-2 with Antrim and dribbled the last defender in alone with big Victor Cruz.  Cutting to his left, Ty set for the finish and totally fanned on it.  Ouch...

  The Cardinals opened the second half by pushing the big ball and trying to free Justin Morrow and Kenny Huston.  The tactic was effective as they out shot the Wolves 9-6 over the last 40 minutes.  The Wolves had a sweet opportunity on 50 minutes when Jeff Catton sent in a golden corner kick that a wide open Izaak Berg met with a strong header.  But Berg's aim was a bit off and he sent the ball off into the next county.  Anchored by Josh Lindsey, the Sequim defense held tough and forced overtime - the third OT in 3 years against Orting.

  Determined not to test the penalty kick fate, the Wolves charged out of the gate in the 1st overtime and had chances from Antrim and CJ Clark.  A minute into the second overtime, Orting succeeded in freeing Morrow on a big ball counter attack.  Lindsey was ready, coming out, cutting off the angle and stuffing the Cardinal striker in his tracks.  The Wolves were awarded a free kick on the right side 40 yd line with 2 minutes left in OT.  Jeff Catton settled over the ball and launched a big arcing rainbow toward the far left post.  Christoph Schneider, doing his best Miroslav Klose impression, rose tall, got his head on it and fired it into the back of the left corner for the win.

  The win puts the Wolves atop the table and gives them some momentum going into the break.

Wolves Battle Wind, Foster

Early Chinn Goal Holds Up 1-0

  March 23, 2006 - Sequim Stadium

  Andy Chinn took the opening kick-off, dribbled down the right side past 2 Foster defenders, got to the corner and saw an opening.  Slashing in along the baseline the befuddled Bulldog defenders could only watch as AC cut it left and mashed a hard left-footer into the upper right corner of the net and the Wolves were up 1-0.  Not even a minute had elapsed.  The south wind was driving and with it at the Wolves back, a barrage was anticipated in order to withstand the Foster 2nd half attack.  Well, the best laid plans are often deemed junk in hindsight, and when nary another ball crossed the Bulldog goal line as the first half ended, the dreaded hang-on was on.

     The Wolves 'D' dug in and Baker, Stansberry, Berg and Shearer in front of cool Josh Lindsey in goal, rose to the challenge.  The Wolf attack played some impressive football keeping the ball low and working a nice passing game.  Chances from Kai Antrim and Noah Brasher nearly put the Wolves up by 2, but in the end, the Chinn goal stood up and Foster left town defeated and dejected. 

Wolves Chop Cowboys to Bits 8-0

  March 21, 2006 - HJ Carrol Park, Chimacum

     In a match of unmatched teams, the Wolves scored early, often, ugly and pretty against the Cowboys from Chimacum.  Passing and good ball movement was hard to find in the first half, but shots were plentiful for the Wolves.  Kai Antrim had a hat trick of garbage, Luke Shearer buried a penalty and CJ Clark finished an Izaak Berg shot off the post as Sequim plastered Chimacum keeper Justin Gonlarte with 22 shots.

     Noah Brasher had the only pretty goal in the 2^nd half with a header off a Jeff Catton cross from the right.  CJ and Mason Harwell tucked home Chimacum turnovers for the final 8-0 tally.  The Wolves finished the game out shooting the Cowboys 29-5.

Steilacoom Steals 1-0 Win

  March 20, 2006 - Sequim Stadium

A defensive lapse in the 79^th minute cost the Wolves a tie, a shutout and a little respect as the visiting Steilacoom Sentinels scooted out of town with a 1-0 win.  The game was fairly even with the Sentinels getting off 19 shots to Sequim’s 15.  Senior forward Joe Snow was a handful with excellent control and great distribution leading to good chances in the 20^th and 36^th minutes. 

     Noah Brasher had Sequim’s best chance early in the 2^nd half as his attempted header of a Tyler Linderoth cross sailed wide left.  The back breaking goal was snapped in by Harvey Mendoza after taking in a miscued back pass and racing in solo on goalie Josh Lindsey.  The Wolves look forward to the league clash versus the Sentinels late in April – and hope to have the defense shored up by then.

Spartans Show Wolves Red 3-1

  March 17, 2006 - Bainbridge Island

            After a mysterious left jab by defender Kyle Baker was spotted (?) by the linesman and the subsequent ejection was handed down by the referee, Sequim’s task of beating the Spartans from Bainbridge was suddenly intensified.  Hanging tough for most of the game, the Wolves defense finally cracked in the 60^th minute when an errant clearance was gobbled up and lashed home from near the penalty spot by Bainbridge senior forward Tyler Church. 

     Pressing for the equalizer with long balls forward left the Wolves open for the counter attack and in the 75^th minute Dylan Tucker-Ganges drove a masterful shot past Josh Lindsey into the upper corner for a 2-0 Bainbridge lead.  The last few minutes was an end to end scrap with Bainbridge adding a third tally and CJ Clark getting his first varsity goal with a sweet little chip from the left side over the onrushing Spartan goalkeeper.  The hard work and great passing of the Spartans showed the Wolves where they need to be to challenge for a play-off berth in the next month.

Wolves Whitewash WuffRiders 3-0

March 11, Civic Field - Port Angeles

     For the second straight year, the Wolves opened the season by trouncing the rebuilding Port Angeles Roughriders.  The only thing in doubt after the first 5 minutes was how many goals Sequim would put in past a game Levi Fahrenholtz in the PA net.  Kai Antrim had an early blast from the right stuffed by Fahrenholtz after beating the molasses like PA backline.  PA hung tough the remainder of the half but had little offensive punch to threaten the Wolves.  German exchange student Christoph Schneider solved the PA netminder in the 43^rd minute by turning to his left foot after being denied to the right and torched the twine from 20 yds out.  Antrim then joined the party in the 64^th minute on a breakaway down the left and a slick left-footed finish to the near post for a 2-0 advantage.

            In mop up time, Josh Lindsey came out of goal and headed in a cross from Tyler Gilstrom to finish the scoring.  After years of being worked by their local rivals, it looks like the tables have been turned upside down.