The Tacoma Baptist-Bear Creek School boys’ soccer trilogy did not have a happy ending for the Grizzlies.

Tacoma Baptist had met the Grizzlies twice before in soccer matches this season, tying one and losing one, before their third matchup for all the marbles last Saturday.

The Crusaders won the one that counted the most, claiming the 2B/1B boys’ soccer championship at Sunset Chevrolet Stadium in Sumner with a 2-0 win.

Tacoma Baptist, led by senior standout Joshua Peters who dominated the Sea-Tac 2B league this year with 33 goals, turned up the offensive pressure early with six shots on goal, including a corner kick header that sailed just high.

Bear Creek was able to get just two shots on goal in the first 40 minutes to Tacoma Baptist’s 11, yet the Crusaders had nothing to show for their efforts on the scoreboard thanks to a marvelous defensive effort by the Grizzlies and the gritty play of goalkeeper Jamie Clough, who had five first-half saves.

“Tacoma Baptist is a great team, and we knew they were a great team,” said Bear Creek head coach Chad Pohlman. “We match up with them and we knew it was just going to be a battle. We fought hard, and the first half was indicative of that.”

But it was a tale of two halves for the Crusaders, who could get nothing to go in the first half, but came alive early in the second half, scoring on two of its first three shots.

Like he had been doing all season, it was Peters who took advantage of a Bear Creek miscue on a missed clear and pounded in the first goal of the game.

“They were fortunate enough to get one in the second half, and that kind of turned the momentum of the game,” noted Pohlman.

Four minutes later, Peters scored again off of Dakina Palmquist’s assist as the packed and raucous Bear Creek fans were sent into a silence.

The Grizzlies earned a crucial penalty kick in the 53rd minute in an attempt to pull within one goal, but goalie Daniel Thompson read senior Kyle Blankenbeckler’s kick perfectly and dove right to make a tremendous save, after which the Crusaders’ defense kept the Grizzlies at bay.

Even having come so close three years after winning it all in 2006, Pohlman had nothing but positive things to say about his young team, which came together in a big way and was able to avoid any major injuries that have plagued the team in the past.

“Second in state is such an amazing accomplishment for this team… we’ve had some bad breaks the last couple years, but this team definitely met its potential and gave us 100 percent all season long,” Pohlman acknowledged. “At the end of the day, that’s all you can ask for, guys that are willing to work hard for you all season long, and they got second in state out of it. It’s a testament to what you can do when you really commit yourself to working hard every day.”

Following the game, The Bear Creek team was recognized with the 2B state Academic Achievement award for their 3.55 cumulative GPA, and junior midfielder Josh Firminger was presented with the sportsmanship award. Pohlman also earned the league’s “Coach of the Year” award. The Grizzlies finished the season with a record of 15-4-2.