Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Saturday, May. 30, 2009

PREP BOYS' SOCCER: Shipman, seniors set the tone for Squalicum

SUMNER - The seniors on the Squalicum boys' soccer team refused to lose.

Second place wasn't an option so the Storm made sure to end its season on the highest note possible - with the Class 2A state title.

Senior Connor Shipman scored the go-ahead goal with less than 10 minutes left to lift Squalicum to a 4-2 victory over Cheney for the program's first state championship at Sunset Chev Stadium on Saturday, May 30.

"We're not an old school, but (the seniors) set the mark for future players," Squalicum coach Joe McAuliffe said. "It was a good accomplishment for them. They should be very proud."

The Blackhawks settled for second for the second straight year after falling to Sehome in the state final last year.

With the game tied at two, Shipman wasn't looking back to Cheney scoring. He was looking ahead. And one day after scoring the game-winner in the semifinal against Archbishop Murphy, Shipman delivered again, and in a very big way.

"It hasn't even hit me yet," Shipman said. "Senior year, state champs, you can't ask for anything else. It's amazing."

Close friend and teammate George Karadimas, a junior, scored twice to generate the offense for the Storm. One of Karadimas' goals was assisted by Shipman.

"Connor, he's like my brother," Karadimas said. "It's great having him on the team and to share goals and share the wins... If we didn't have the seniors, we would not be here."

Seven seniors all played a hand in bringing home the first championship trophy.

On the defensive end, the championship was the height of senior Evan Brunhaver's high school career.

"Being a senior and it being my last high school game ever, it's a good way to end," Brunhaver said.

The Squalicum roster will certainly miss the talent and output from its seniors next season, but the future is bright for the Storm.

With a strong core of juniors and sophomores and with a freshman seeing some playing time in the championship game, McAuliffe has a good feeling.

"I'm really encouraged by what we have," he said.