Boys soccer: Sammamish ends Sequim’s season at districts

Sammamish broke through with the game’s lone goal 10 minutes from the end of regulation to end No. 15-seeded Sequim’s boys soccer season with a 1-0 defeat in the Class 2A Bi-District Tournament on May 7 at Sammamish High School.

The No. 10-seeded Redhawks had the majority of possession in the second half and the lone score was set up by a five-pass combination around the right side of the field.

A cross sent right-to-left found a Sammamish player inside the goal box for a softly struck header to the far post.

“Kinda been our MO,” Wolves coach Dave Breckenridge said.

“We continued to struggle up top [offensively]. Finishing has been plaguing us all season.

“We will be losing some key pieces in our back line but lucky for us we have some talented young players coming up in the ranks. We have some amazing players that didn’t quite get to shine this year but will thrive next season for sure.”

A longtime Sequim assistant coach, Breckenridge said his first season in charge was an eye opener in terms of how to blend motivation, discipline, praise and criticism while training players with hopes to play at the next level and those who just want to have fun playing the game.

“We have so much talent and getting them to work together was the struggle,” Breckenridge said. “I’m very proud of them for pulling through the season regardless of the struggles.

“Our seniors will be missed and I hope their experience was a positive one. Onward and upward. Adrian Mendez [a teammate battling a rare autoimmune illness, Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis] was a driving force to keep this team motivated. He was missed greatly and knowing he is improving everyday is a blessing.”

Sequim finished the season 6-9-0, including a pair of wins over Port Angeles.

Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell
Sequim goalkeeper Nolan Valenzuela, center, keeps an eye on Bremerton attacker Adrian Ortiz, left, in the Wolves’ Olympic League home game on April 30.

Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell Sequim goalkeeper Nolan Valenzuela, center, keeps an eye on Bremerton attacker Adrian Ortiz, left, in the Wolves’ Olympic League home game on April 30.