Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Saturday, May. 30, 2009

PREP BOYS' SOCCER: Storm has 'heart' this season

SUMNER - It was some time near the end of the regular season when something clicked for the Squalicum boys' soccer team.

And since that happened, the Storm have been doing what their team T-shirts read: Storming through State.

Dimitri Polichronakis and Connor Shipman both scored a goal in a 2-1 Class 2A State semifinal victory over Archbishop Murphy on Friday, May 29, at Sunset Chev Stadium. The Storm will play for the state championship at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 30.

The Storm is making its first state appearance since 2004 where it didn't place, but this season is much different. Shipman cites two words to describe what makes this team stand out.

"Wanting it," Shipman said. "You don't have to have all the skill there, but if you want it and you have the heart to get it, you can achieve it. That's what we have this year."

Squalicum's season was up and down headed into the postseason, but it was as the season was coming to a close that the Storm found its niche.

"We started jelling as a team and started playing together," senior defender Mitchell Eifrig said. "That's really what picked us up. We really stepped up and played to our full potential."

And what a pick-me-up it has been for the Storm the last couple weeks. The semifinal win puts Squalicum in a state title game for the first time since 2002.

"We sort of woke up toward the end of the season and realized it was going to have to be a lot of gritty hard work and defense was going to be a big part of it," Squalicum coach Joe McAuliffe said.

The Storm's defense has played a big role in leading them back to the state final, but it's certainly been a team effort. The forwards and midfielders have also chipped in on the other side of the ball.

"We learned you have to protect your goal first off," McAuliffe said. "(The mentality of) we won't let you get to our goal easily has been a big adjustment."

Against the Wildcats Eifrig worked extra hard on getting headers off of their long balls. Senior Evan Brunhaver tracked down offensive threats and used his speed to deny opportunities. Junior Andy Poe created offense off his defense and senior Tyler Wingerden shut the midfielders down. Senior Jake Turk and junior Tommy McAuliffe also chipped in with good minutes on the defensive end.

"It's all communication," Eifrig said. "We've been playing with each other for a while. We just talk and make sure we have it under control."

Reach Somer Breeze at somer.breeze@bellinghamherald.com or 715-2285.