The No. 1-ranked Bear Creek Grizzlies boys’ soccer team finished out its regular season in style on Senior Night, defeating the winless Evergreen Lutheran Eagles in a 12-1 rout at home.

But while the Grizzlies have been getting used to scoring sprees against some of the struggling programs in the Sea-Tac 2B league, the team knows that to back up their top-dog ranking, they will need to perform on the stage that matters most – the 2B state tournament – where the Grizzlies placed a heartbreaking second last season after being shut out in the title game by Tacoma Baptist, 2-0.

Bear Creek has already secured a spot to the Big Dance, which gets underway Nov. 12, and will play La Conner for the 1B/2B Bi-District championship in a seeding game on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Sammamish High School in Bellevue.

UPPER CLASS

Looking at the team’s roster, it might appear that 2010 could possibly be the year of the Grizzly – due to the sheer amount of experience and leadership that head coach Chad Pohlman has out on the field every game.

Sixteen out of Pohlman’s 20 rostered varsity players are either returning seniors or juniors, with nine of them upperclassmen.

“We don’t have to spend a lot of time talking about focus, or doing the things you (teach) to younger kids,” he explained on the benefits of having experienced players. “They know what it’s about and what we’re trying to accomplish. It’s been fun to have so many seniors that are leading the way.”

Heading the Grizzlies’ talented senior class is star goalkeeper Jamie Clough, who recorded an unprecedented 12 shutouts in 16 games this season, and also broke the school record for shutouts in a career, which now stands at 35 and counting.

“We’re lucky he’s ours because he’s the best goalie in the state at this level,” lauded Pohlman. “He’s had an amazing year.”

Clough, however, credited his top-of-the-line backfield for limiting opponents’ scoring chances during his run in the net.

“I’m the last line of defense, but I have to give most of the credit to the guys in front of me,” Clough said. “They stopped more shots than I did and kept the guys out of the box.”

That backfield suffered a loss earlier in the season when defender Lucas Fernandez went down with an injury, but team captain Josh Firminger, also a senior, has stepped up. On offense, the Grizzlies have a number of athletes who can score at any given time at the midfield and forward positions.

“Josh stepped up and has had a terrific season leading the charge in the back,” said Pohlman. “Outside of that, Tom Postings has had an incredible year at forward with 16 goals, and Mark Phillips has had an unbelieveable year. Our best players are upperclassmen and that really helps us out.”

RAISING THE BAR

After the Grizzlies won it all in 2006, the program became highly regarded as one of the state’s best at the 2B level, a distinction that Pohlman doesn’t take lightly.

“We start out every season exactly the same, for us, we start with the goal to win our league title,” Pohlman explained. “That’s what we did again this year, but that’s what the expectation is, where the bar is at. We’ve been fortunate this year to have good players that work really hard.”

While some of the other teams in the league, mostly comprised of small, private Christian schools like Bear Creek, have barely been able to field full teams – the Grizzlies have been thriving in their tight-knit, family atmosphere that surrounds the squad.

“It’s a small school, so we know everyone really well,” noted Firminger. “We’re close not just with the juniors but the sophomores as well.”

Added Clough, “All of us are really committed. We all love the sport and we love each other, and were just able to gel this year.”

With regards to this year’s postseason, Pohlman admitted that when wins come easy as they have been at times, it can be a challenge to push forward and realize that there is still room for improvement.

And as always, the eighth-year coach stressed that his team must take it one game at a time and not get ahead of themselves.

“Right now, we’re not thinking so much how we’re going to win state, it’s how much better can we get,” Pohlman said. “The guys already know they’re a good team… but there are some real tangible things we need to improve on, like winning balls in the air, playing good team defense. If we can do those things and get better at them, then we’ll make a good run at it this year.”

To view more action photos from this game, visit photographer Matt Campbell’s Web site at www.sportspixs.com/110210