As if the name Wallace hasn't been in the high school sports news enough for Squalicum in recent years, here come two more Wallace athletes of considerable potential.

This time it's twin boys Spencer and Zach Wallace who will be sophomores this fall. They began to make their varsity mark as standout freshmen wrestlers, and now they're set to grapple with soccer, based on how they helped the Whatcom FC U16 team in the Pacific Coast Challenge.

Zach, a center midfielder, scored the biggest goal of his career as the U16 boys made the tournament finals for the first time with a 1-0 win over Seattle United on Sunday, Aug. 26, after four consecutive years of losses in the semifinals, starting as 12-year-olds.

The championship match later in the day at Northwest Soccer Park was a study in frustration for the Wallaces and their teammates. They gave up two goals in the first five minutes, then turned everything around and played at least even with Eastside FC in a 2-0 loss to the King County team.

However, the Whatcom FC U17 boys gave the U16 guys something to shoot for. Caley Powers and Blake Dimock scored to help the U17 side to a 2-1 victory over Seattle United in the title game after Dimmock's second-half goal produced a 1-0 win over Magnuson in the semifinals.

"I feel we have a pretty good chance to be one of the top U16 clubs in Washington," said Zach Wallace, whose spirit seemed undaunted by the defeat.

These Wallace boys, and their sister, Squalicum senior soccer standout Lauren Wallace, came from Illinois five years ago. They aren't related to former Storm multi-sport standouts Nick and Jessica Wallace.

The Wallace fraternal twins' mother, team manager Carolyn Wallace, flashed a wide grin when asked how well the twins get along.

"They're either their best friend or their worst enemy," she said with a laugh.

That's only off the field, however.

"I feel like we have a special connection," said Spencer, a defender. "I always know where Zach is at all times."

Their Rangers coach, Scott Caldwell, agreed.

"They get along on the field real well," said Caldwell, a veteran Rangers program coach who is in his first year with the U16 team.

The Wallace twins started playing high-level club soccer at a much younger age than their teammates, since they began playing at age 7 on travel teams in Naperville, Ill. They spent three seasons together there, then played developmental soccer - as local athletes younger than 12 do in Whatcom County - for two seasons.

"I remember how we trained with Mason Webb a couple of years ago," said Spencer Wallace, recalling one of the standout twins - Nick was the other - who performed so well for the Storm about the time the Wallace twins started school.

Caldwell expressed optimism for the fall club season, which begins in September.

"On a good day, we can play with any team in the league," the coach said. "I haven't seen a team we can't compete with."

The U16 boys allowed only two goals in their first four tournament games, going 3-1 as goalkeeper Hector Gutierrez from Lynden did a consistently outstanding job and gave up four goals in five games over three days. In pool play, Cody Fransen scored two goals and Zach Wanne, Brandon Burbank and Konner Van Rijswijck had one apiece. Zach Wallace's winning goal in the semifinals was a line shot of about 25 yards.

"That was my only goal of the tournament," said Zach Wallace. "Some of the guys have been wanting me to shoot more."

The Rangers had almost all their U16 players for the first time in their three summer tournaments.

In the U17 finals, coach Jason Conway could not have been prouder.

"These boys deserve everything they're getting," said Conway. "They honestly make me so proud every time I coach them. Today, Hans Kogan and Justin Costanza were phenomenal on defense."

Whatcom goalkeeper Adriano Terenzi also turned in a solid showing with several fine saves. Dimock scored unassisted on a tricky angle shot in the 53rd minute, breaking a 1-1 tie. Teammate Powers scored in the 16th minute for a 1-0 Rangers lead.

In the semifinal, Dimock's first-half goal, off an assist by Gabe Guidroz, turned out to be enough. In pool play, the Rangers went 2-0-1, scoring four goals and allowing one.

A third Whatcom team played in the finals, with the U15 squad losing to Black Hills 1-0. The U15 Rangers went 3-1 in their first four games, including a 3-0 win over Emerald City in the semifinals. All told, they scored 15 goals and allowed three in their five games.

The U19 and U14 Rangers lost in the semifinals. In the U11 division, the WSA Rapids finished second.

In COPA Division play, the Ranger U14s won the title 2-1 over Highline and the Ranger U15s lost 4-1 to Delta in the finals.

Pacific Coast Challenge

Sunday scores

Home team Score Visiting team Score

Under 11 Boys

Championship 3-WSA Rapids Navy 0 2-Shakhtar 1

Under 12 Boys

Semifinal 05-Eastside FC B'00 Red - Lee 7 06-PCU 00 Red 0

Semifinal 09-Snohomish United B00 - Black 2 08-Azaad 6

Championship 05-Eastside FC B'00 Red - Lee 2 08-Azaad 1

Under 13 Boys COPA

Semifinal 14-Monroe FC - Arellano 2 11-Whatcom FC Rangers BU 99/00 Blue 1

Semifinal 16-Lake Hills Synergy B99 2 13-Blackhills FC B 99 Black 1

Championship 14-Monroe FC - Arellano 0 16-Lake Hills Synergy B99 2

Under 13 Boys Premier

Semifinal 18-Eastside FC B99 Red/Kovats 2 25-Snohomish United Black A Martinez 0

Semifinal 21-EFC B99 White 3 20-Seattle United B99 Tango 1

Championship 18-Eastside FC B99 Red/Kovats 3 21-EFC B99 White 2

Under 14 Boys COPA

Semifinal 32-Westsound B98 Red 2 28-WFC Rangers U14 Blue 3

Semifinal 31-Highline Premier B98 Blue 3 29-Washington East (WE) U14-Seely 2

Championship 28-WFC Rangers U14 Blue 2 31-Highline Premier B98 Blue 1

Under 14 Boys Premier

Semifinal 38-WFC Rangers BU14 GOLD 0 34-NWN B98 RED 4

Semifinal 35-Seattle United B98 Tango 1 40-Crossfire Premier B98 Metzger 0

Championship 34-NWN B98 RED 0 35-Seattle United B98 Tango 3

Under 15 Boys COPA

Semifinal 47-Snohomish United B97 Red 0 45-Whatcom FC Rangers BU15 Blue 1

Semifinal 42-Delta Selects 5 44-Kitsap Pumas BU15 - #2 1

Championship 45-Whatcom FC Rangers BU15 Blue 1 42-Delta Selects 4

Under 15 Boys Premier

Semifinal 51-Burnaby Selects 1 59-Blackhills FC B 97 Black 2

Semifinal 54-Emerald City FC M97 Green 0 55-WFC Rangers BU15 Gold 3

Championship 59-Blackhills FC B 97 Black 1 55-WFC Rangers BU15 Gold 0

Under 16 Boys

Semifinal 63-Eastside FC B96 Red 2 65-PacNW 96 Maroon 0

Semifinal 68-WFC Rangers B96 Gold/Caldwell 1 70-Seattle United B96 Copa 0

Championship 63-Eastside FC B96 Red 2 68-WFC Rangers B96 Gold/Caldwell 0

Under 17 Boys Premier

Semifinal 71-WFC Rangers 95-96 Gold 1 79-Magnuson Ford Mariners 0

Semifinal 73-Seattle United B95 Copa 3 76-Eastside FC '95 Red - Lee 1

Championship 71-WFC Rangers 95-96 Gold 2 73-Seattle United B95 Copa 1

Under 17/19 Boys COPA

Semifinal 84-FC Shoreline B94 2 83-Seattle United Shoreline B95 Blue 1

Semifinal 86-Legacy 4 85-Kajumulo FC Tembo 95 0

Championship 84-FC Shoreline B94 0 86-Legacy 1

Under 19 Boys Premier

Semifinal 88-Eastside FC 94 White 2 98-NWN 94 RED 3

Semifinal 92-WFC Rangers BU18 Gold 0 95-Coquitlam Metro-Ford SC 2

Championship 98-NWN 94 RED 0 95-Coquitlam Metro-Ford SC 2