Pat Myatt scored two goals to set South Whidbey sailing to victory over Mount Baker at Waterman Field.
South Whidbey’s senior co-captain scored both goals in the first half of Saturday’s non-conference home opener. As with any senior season, it was the final first home opener for Myatt, and he made the most of it with his multi-goal night.
“It felt great,” Myatt said. “I can’t thank anybody but my team.”
“They were both set up by my teammates,” Myatt added. “Anyone could have been there.”
Myatt showed some senior flair after scoring his second goal. He coasted onto the track, and took an abbreviated victory lap past the fans in the stands, arms outstretched as if in flight, holding up the number two.
Cameron Coupe scored the third goal for the Falcons, also in the first half.
After the halftime break, Coach Gerlach’s defense stymied the Mountaineers. Senior goalkeeper TJ Russell had three shots on goal, and stopped two one-on-ones out of the net — a slow night for Russell.
“Sometimes it gets really boring back there when you want to make saves,” Russell said.
Falcon senior Dean Freundlich stayed in the entire game — a common stat for the co-captain. He said he remained in the game to maintain the 3-0 score and help the newer defenders learn their assignments. Falcons Whit White (senior) and Andrew Holt (sophomore) started in the defensive backfield.
“They listened really well,” Freundlich said. “I didn’t have to do much. I was just directing them and we all, together, shut them down, and kept them out of our half for the most part.”
South Whidbey is 2-0 leading into Tuesday night’s Cascade Conference opener against Granite Falls.
In its two victories, the Falcons scored 14 goals and allowed only one. South Whidbey’s defense has not allowed a first-half goal this season. The only goal scored was against Friday Harbor, late in the second half, with most of the starters out.
Against Mount Baker, the Falcons kept the Mountaineers far from the goal.
“As long as we don’t give up any goals in the second half we should be a good team this year,” Myatt said.
Gerlach said the Mountaineers were a better team than Friday Harbor, too. Mount Baker is 0-3 and lost 15-0 and 12-0 before Saturday’s match with South Whidbey.
“I think the best part of the game, aside from how well they played, was the players substituted from the bench,” Gerlach said. “They played great.”
One substitution Gerlach highlighted was Noah Moeller at center-mid. Gerlach said Moeller shut down any Mountaineer plays coming through the middle of the field. Myatt also credited the midfield for keeping the ball upfield, and pressuring Mount Baker’s defense to stop the ball.
“Our defense is pretty hard to get through,” Myatt said.
The team faced a quick turnaround to prepare for Tuesday’s home conference opener against the Tigers of Granite Falls. Russell said he was glad to play a game on Waterman Field before the conference opener because the team practices at the primary school campus.
“It’s good to get used to our field before a harder opponent like Archbishop [Murphy] or King’s,” Russell said.
The Tigers will play for a first win after an 8-1 loss and a 3-3 draw.
