The Sequim boys soccer team will play familiar foe Burlington-Edison in the first round of the state 2A tournament at 6 p.m. tonight (May 18) at Anacortes High School.

“We’ve played them in the past,” Sequim coach Ken Garling said. “On paper, it looks like we’re real similar. I like our chances. It’s a good matchup for us. It will come down to whichever team executes.”

Sequim lost to Burlington-Edison in the state 2A quarterfinals in 2018, falling 4-3 in a second overtime period.

The Wolves go into the state tournament 11-7 and ranked No. 19 in Ratings Percentage Index. Burlington-Edison is 11-6-1 and ranked No. 12 in RPI.

Sequim qualified for state by beating Franklin Pierce at the bi-district tournament last Tuesday. The Wolves finished up play at bi-district with a pair of close losses, 2-1 to Clover Park on Thursday and 3-1 to Fife on Saturday.

Garling said the boys had to travel more than two hours to those games and had to play three games in five days. He also thought the boys were emotionally spent after the hard-fought Franklin Pierce win.

“I think we were fatigued. Three games on the road in a week takes a toll on you,” he said.

Garling was glad that Sequim gets to rest and practice an extra day with some of the state tournament games beginning today.

The next two games at state are loser out, so the Sequim players realize how important the next two games are. If Sequim wins, the Wolves next play either Tumwater (15-6, No. 16 RPI) or Pullman (17-2, No. 4 RPI) on either Friday or Saturday.

“I feel our boys will be prepared. They’re hungry,” he said.

The game can be viewed online at tinyurl.com/SequimBESoccer; it requires a subscription to the NHFS Network to watch.