Grizzlies gearing up for postseason: Unstoppable Bear Creek boys earn tenth win

Much like The Bear Creek School's stellar basketball program, head soccer coach Chad Pohlman knows that some teams in the Sea-Tac 2B League may not give his team the challenge they need to succeed at the state tournament this November. As a result, Pohlman, who also serves as the Bear Creek School's Athletic Director, put together a late-season tune-up for his squad on Monday against a very tough La Conner team that placed third at the 2B state tournament in both 2009 and 2010.

By Tim Watanabe • October 18, 2011 6:41 pm
Bear Creek forward Mark Phillips (left) battles with La Conner midfielder Jack Borusinski for a header during Monday afternoon's nonleague matchup against the Braves. Phillips scored a goal in the Grizzlies' 2-0 shutout
Bear Creek forward Mark Phillips (left) battles with La Conner midfielder Jack Borusinski for a header during Monday afternoon's nonleague matchup against the Braves. Phillips scored a goal in the Grizzlies' 2-0 shutout

Much like The Bear Creek School’s stellar basketball program, head soccer coach Chad Pohlman knows that some teams in the Sea-Tac 2B League may not give his team the challenge they need to succeed at the state tournament this November.

As a result, Pohlman, who also serves as the Bear Creek School’s Athletic Director, put together a late-season tune-up for his squad on Monday against a very tough La Conner team that placed third at the 2B state tournament in both 2009 and 2010.

His Grizzlies passed the test with flying colors, shutting out the Braves 2-0 to improve to 10-1-1 overall.

“Our goal today was just to go out and play really hard and not worry about winning or losing,” said Pohlman, adding that the injury bug has bitten his team worse than usual this season. “It was that checkpoint in the year where we figure out where we’re at and things we need to work on as we make this last push.”

 

PLAYING WITH PRIDE

The Grizzlies, who had averaged 6.4 goals per game in each of their nine wins going into Monday’s tilt, knew that kind of offensive output would be unlikely against the Braves, who have allowed two goals or less in eight of their 10 games this season.

After a number of chances sailed just high or wide of the net, in addition to La Conner goalkeeper Taylor Fay making a couple of nice saves, the Grizzlies broke through in the 26th minute as junior midfielder Gabe Rongve scored unassisted from the right wing. Mark Phillips

Just before the first half ended, Bear Creek played add-on, with star forward Mark Phillips (right) taking advantage of a clear shot off a nice feed from Luke Blankenbeckler to put his team up 2-0 at the half.

“Luke played me a really nice little through ball,” Phillips said of the goal, his 32nd of the year. “I just kind of let it run onto my left foot… and slid it in.”

Phillips has been in a dead heat with Tacoma Baptist standout Jake Zimmer for the league lead in goals scored all season, with Zimmer’s 33 currently one ahead of Phillips, but Pohlman stressed that his offense is far from one-dimensional.

“(Phillips) is one of the best players in the state and we rely on him a lot, but, you know, we have a lot of really good players on the team as well,” he said. “A lot of guys here can put the ball in the net, and if Mark doesn’t score, we have the confidence that someone else will.”

In addition, the Grizzlies’ defense put the stops on the Braves every time they had an opportunity, assisting goalkeeper Michael Worley in earning his league-leading fifth shutout of the season.

“The defense has gotten a lot better this year,” Pohlman noted. We started off the year a little shaky, but we’ve been working hard every day getting better at that. We challenge these guys, and we have a lot of pride. We don’t like giving up goals, and that’s one thing we’ve definitely improved on.”

Phillips admitted that even though Monday’s game didn’t count towards the final standings, he understood the importance of playing a team like the Braves with the postseason looming ahead.

“It was just really nerve-wracking,” said the senior on the pressure and intensity on the field. “A game like this, it really gets your heart racing.”

 

CHANCE FOR REDEMPTION

Last season’s Grizzlies, after reeling off a perfect 16-0-0 regular season, fell flat in the postseason with shutout losses to La Conner (1-0) and Providence Classical Christian (2-0), crashing the team’s hopes for a state title.

Although they are likely to finish second this year in the Sea-Tac 2B League to unbeaten Tacoma Baptist (8-0-1, 10-0-1), the Grizzlies have already secured a state tournament berth, as both the No. 2 seeds from the Sea-Tac and Northwest leagues are guaranteed to advance from the Bi-District tournament at Interlake High School in Bellevue, where they will play for seeding on Nov 5.

This year, Pohlman will do everything in his power to guide his team to at least a repeat of the Grizzlies’ 2009 run, where they made the 2B state title game.

“We just have a few more league games and then we’re gearing up for the postseason,” he stated. “We’re doing everything we can to get healthy and work on the things we need to work on, and it always seems to come down to those district and state games. We’ll be doing everything we can to get ready.”

Phillips, who was a huge part of the Grizzlies’ run last year and in 2009, said that staying focused on the task at hand and not taking anything for granted will be key down the stretch.

“We just have to work hard in practice, that’s the key,” Phillips said. “Whatever we do in practice, we do in the games… we have to keep focused, and (not) get complacent.”

The Grizzlies play Christian Faith (1-5-0, 1-7-0) this Thursday afternoon on the road.