Downed Jacks; Quincy nipped in state playoff

QUINCY — It was ironic, really.

Just seconds after their last shot attempt sailed wide and the Quincy Jacks soccer team knew their Class 2A state playoff had ended too early, most of their players dropped to the turf in anguish.

After a surprising and crushing 1-0 first round loss to Cheney the Jacks could have stood with their heads held high and no one would have disagreed.

Instead they saw their 17-2 campaign come to an end despite dominating a match they ultimately would lose and the players fell to the ground, crushed.

However, to many, they should have felt nothing but pride after a successful 2010 campaign.

“The kids played a great game and we were unlucky in a lot of situations where we could have put the ball into the net,” Quincy coach Thomas Turner said. “They really went out there and played the way we like to play. If you’re going to be eliminated you want to be in the game and we were. We had a lot of unfortunate opportunities where things wouldn’t go in.”

Quincy outshot Cheney 25-9 and dominated possession by nearly a 2-to-1 margin but a header by C.J. Skilingstad in the 67th minute gave Cheney the goal against the run of play that would ultimately win the match.

“It’s unfortunate but that happened,” Turner said. “Majority of their scores is off of set plays and we knew and that coming in so we our guys to cover up. We still had our chances at the end of the game but it was just unfortunate.”

In a contest that easily could have doubled as a state semifinal or final, Quincy came out on the attack early but despite controlling the tempo and possession they were still forced to take numerous shots from long range that didn’t come near threatening Cheney goalkeeper Andrew Wilson.

“They had eight, nine guys in the box and really pinched the box out so we needed to attack these guys,” Turner said. “We started doing that and getting some shots but we had no luck on our side tonight.”

Cheney had the first true attempt at a goal in the 19th minute when Alex Adams sprinted past the Quincy backline and managed to wrangle free for a split second one-on-one with Jacks’ goaltender Cody Beaumont, but the shot rolled off to the right.

Moments later, Cheney’s Austin Walker blasted a shot from about 20 yards out that just missed the inside left side of the post, keeping the match scoreless.

Cheney (16-3) continually played counter and direct tactics, hoping to take advantage of their blistering pace up front, while Quincy defenders continually found enough of the right angles to keep things stretched out and their goal protected.

“The defense did what they needed to stop them,” Turner said. “I told them to be conservative and kick the ball out if they need to. They got some shots but Beaumont did what he needed to do and our guys were doing their job in back.”

Quincy’s first real shot on goal came in the 28th minute when Pedro Nunez’s chip from the left side sailed just over the post and then three minutes later JC Romero’s direct kick wound its way through a crowed before Wilson stopped it just short of the goal line.

One more opportunity in the first half presented itself for Quincy as Nunez’s shot from 10-yards was parried away by Wilson and the Jacks’ Luis Sorto jumped on the loose ball but couldn’t cash in going side netting with the attempt and the score was 0-0 at halftime.

Quincy jumped out strong again to begin the second half, controlling the pace and dictating terms but nothing came near to threatening Wilson until Sorto’s left side chip sailed and dipped toward the goalmouth before being tipped away and off the post in the 48th minute.

After both teams battled back and forth for the next dozen minutes Cheney’s Xavier Day weaved his way through the Quincy backline and found himself in front of goal but pulled his shot just right from 10 yards out.

“By far that was the best team we’ve played all season,”  Turner said of Cheney. “They were organized and played consistently and stayed with their game plan. They knew what they were doing.”

Seven minutes later, Cheney would score off of a throw in that was headed back toward goal and right to Skilingstad who knocked it past Beaumont and the 1-0 lead.

Quincy wouldn’t give in and they continued to press matters and in the 75th minute Efrain Alvarado let go of a rocket of a shot from inside the penalty area that Wilson turned away.

Then with time winding down and Quincy still in search of the equalizer, Romero took a indirect kick from the left side and served it inside the six-yard box where Jesus Diaz was waiting.

Diaz got to the ball, got a head onto it, but his shot missed just wide left by a foot, with Wilson no where to be seen.

“It was what we needed to do and I thought it was going in,” Turner said. “We seemed to be in the right position all night long. What can I say.”

Despite the loss, Turner had nothing but superlatives to shower upon his squad as they leave the 2010 season which included a first-ever Central Washington Athletic Conference (CWAC) District Tournament title, having lost only twice and having been eliminated by the two-time defending Class 2A state runners-up.

“I went in to the locker room after the game and talked about the 17 wins and that we had a great season,” Turner said. “I still question why we had the (league) number two draw and not the number three when Toppenish plays the number three. I can’t control it but I can still ask the question. Still, we looked at the positives of the year. Things happen for a reason. We will learn from this and we will go on.”