Lakewood U19 club soccer wins President’s Cup

Is there a better way to end club soccer as a high school senior then with the President’s Cup state championship win? The Lakewood Boys U19 team would say, “No way.”

Some of the boys didn’t think they would be playing soccer this fall season. There are so many commitments as a senior, so many expenses, jobs, school sports and senior projects.

The idea started with one player. Friends called friends and a team was formed. The promise was no coaching and it had to be only for fun.

Right away the chemistry was obvious. By the end of the fall season, they boasted only one loss and the status of district champions.

Game-winning scores of 4-0 and 3-0 against Mukilteo Fusion in the qualifier moved the team into the semifinals. Then Lakewood prevailed with a 4-1 victory against the Eagles of Bellevue and the second semifinal with a 3-0 victory against Kitsap Yellow Reign and the boys were looking forward to the state championship game the next weekend.

With the threat of snow and ice again, the championship game was met with much anticipation. The snow had already started up north when the team started the drive to the StarFire complex in Tukwila.

The snow continued to fall as the ball went back and forth. No team really took control. However, the opponents’ speed didn’t go unnoticed. Before the first half was over, Craig Hooks put up a corner and Garret Myer rushed in from defense to volley a rocket in the back of the net. Morale was up at halftime but was quickly lowered after two quick goals from the Wave of Gig Harbor who moved easily through the Lakewood defense.

Cooler heads prevailed when forward Kyle Hausenfluck scored the tying goal. The next goal came a few minutes later off a punt from goalie James Hoback to Hausenfluck, who dribbled through three defenders and beat the goalie for the go-ahead goal. The insurance goal was scored by Joseph Hawkins with a header off another Hooks corner kick. 

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