Dramatic shootout win for boys’ soccer finale

Bill Reynolds | May 12, 20210

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USING HIS HEAD – La Conner’s Mason Wilson (25) executes a header near the Braves sideline during second half action of league soccer action with Grace Academy at Whittaker Field on Friday. Wilson and the Braves held on for a 2-1 triumph in a contest that went to a final shootout round. – Photo by Bill Reynolds

The La Conner high boys’ soccer team closed out a shortened spring season with a win in their longest match of the campaign Friday.

Andre Knudson clinched a 2-1 Braves home triumph over Grace Academy of Marysville with a goal in the shootout round to break a 1-1 tie following 80 minutes of action and two five-minute overtime sessions.

Knudson was mobbed by his teammates, who rushed onto the field from their sideline following his game-winner,.

Braves’ goalkeeper Elijah Porter also came up big in the shootout. He successfully defended three of four Eagle shots, allowing Knudson to drill the decider and capture the shootout round. Overall, La Conner missed just one of its four kicks.

Had Knudson missed the mark, Grace Academy could have deadlocked the score on its fifth and final attempt in the shootout.

That scenario would not have been far-fetched, as stranger things had already happened in regulation.

Held scoreless for over 79 minutes, Grace Academy scored on a rare attack in La Conner territory with less than 30 seconds to play. It was literally a case of one minute La Conner being on the verge of a shutout win, and the next minute forced into overtime.

Both teams were scoreless in OT, setting up the shootout during which each team’s goalie had to fend off up to five shots.

It was only fitting that Knudson would seal the victory. He had been all over the field throughout the afternoon and happened to be in front of the Eagle goal early in the second half when a blocked pass caromed in his direction.

Knudson instinctively rifled a shot into the net that gave La Conner a 1-0 lead that held up until just before what would have been the final whistle.

With the win, La Conner wrapped up the 2021 season with a 3-4 mark.

Head coach Galen McKnight’s club had edged Coupeville 2-1 in regulation earlier in the week at Whittaker Field. Cameron Burks assisted Mason Wilson and Isa Gonzales-Rojas for the two Braves scores.

In a related note:

• The La Conner high girls’ soccer team fell 11-0 to perennial power Mount Vernon Christian in its season finale last Wednesday.