by MICHAEL DASHIELL
Sequim Gazette
A fourth seed may not be exactly what the Wolves wanted, but it puts them where they want to be: the postseason.
Despite a 1-0 loss to Olympic League 2A champ Kingston on Thursday night, Sequim joins their playoff brethren this week. The Wolves take on Eatonville, the South Puget Sound League’s No. 6 seed, with a “home” game at Peninsula College on May 11 (see box).
Waylon Lam gets fouled by Olympic’s Franz Plum in last week’s 6-0 Sequim win. Nick Camporini, Lam’s teammate, converted the penalty kick for his third goal of the game. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell
Sequim coach Dave Brasher said he knows little about Eatonville’s Cruisers, only that they finished the season with a couple of wins, including a good win against White River.
“Should be pretty even competition,” Brasher said.
The winner of that game advances to the West Central District III sub-district tourney, taking on the Seamount League’s No. 1 team, Kennedy, at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at Foster High School in Tacoma.
“We can go far in the postseason,” said Nick Camporini, Sequim senior and top scorer.
Against Kingston, the Buccaneers controlled play and got a score from Hank Veenstra at the 55th minute to clinch the top seed to the district tourney.
“Kingston’s got a solid defense,” Brasher said. “We played hard the whole game. (Goalkeeper) Byron (Boots) had a great game. The goal they got they earned.”
With a win, Sequim would have leapfrogged Port Angeles for the sub-district No. 3 seed, but with Sequim’s loss and Port Angeles’ win against Olympic, the Roughriders earned the bye.
“I’m kind of glad we got this extra game,” Brasher said. “We’re playing better every game we play, in better shape.”
Sequim closed out their home schedule and honored their nine varsity seniors with a 6-0 blowout of Olympic on May 3.
After holding a 1-0 lead in the first half, Sequim erupted for five scores in 24 minutes, led by Camporini’s hat trick (three goals).
The third came on a penalty kick after teammate Waylon Lam was taken down in the penalty box.
“I had to take it,” Camporini said. “Usually it’s between me and Byron (Boots). I wanted it.”
Camporini opened the scoring in the first minute off an assist from fellow senior David Richards, beating Trojan keeper Harry Hanson. Camporini got number two off a feed from Gerry Azanza in the 50th minute. Twelve minutes later, Camporini set up Richards, who beat backup keeper Patrick Herbert with a 30-yard strike for a 3-0 lead.
Following Camporini’s penalty kick score, Azanza and Michael Lee, both seniors, hooked up for a pair of goals in less than two minutes. Lee picked up assists and Azanza netted the scores, including a dazzling header that he redirected after splitting the Olympic defense.
“It was a little nervy in that first half (with just one score),” Brasher said. “It was a team we should beat and we did.”
Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.
