Mycroft and AMHS Wildcats beat Quincy for 2nd consecutive State Title

Freshman goalkeeper and star of both tonight’s championship and yesterday’s semi-final Daniel Mycroft had all the ladies lined up for a photo with him after the game. A transfer to Murphy at the beginning of second semester, Mycroft won the game with a phenomenal blocked PK during tonight’s shootout against Quincy. 

This year’s 2A state championship was very different from last year’s. Where last year a 3-0 victory was clinched early on by the boys, this year the fight kept going until the very end. 

Both Archbishop Murphy and Quincy had several shots throughout the game, but a goal didn’t come until the 51st minute. The Jackrabbits netted their goal under a diving Mycroft towards the left goalpost. Their lead was shortlived however, because 5 minutes later a PK from Diego Rios richocheted off of Parker Buchanan’s head and found a diving Matt Williams who headed it into the back of the net. 

The intensity only increased after both teams had scored. But neither team was able to capitalize again despite multiple attempts. There was a total of 3 yellow cards in the game, two for Archbishop Murphy and one for Quincy. 

During both overtime periods, the Wildcats took shots from as far as 40 yards out, on what I’m assuming were  Coach Bartley’s orders. Neither team was able to score however, and the game came down to the all too familiar set of shootout penalty kicks. 

Rios, Williams, Jake Snider, and Jensen Crisler netted their PKs. The Jackrabbits goalie blocked Buchanan’s shot. Mycroft knocked away both the 3rd and last of Quincy’s PKs, giving the Wildcats their second consecutive state title with a 2-1 (4-3 shoot out) win. 

The Archishop Murphy boys soccer team claimed 4 titles this year (league, district, academic, and state) and finished 21-1. Needless to say, we are all extremely proud of our team, especially our D1-bound goalie, Daniel Mycroft. 

AMHS Wildcats win State Semi-Final in shootout

Wildcat fans held hands anxiously as what would be the final Sehome player stepped up to shoot. Freshman goal keeper Daniel Mycroft ritualistically walked around the goal and kicked each post before planting himself in the middle. The ball was set. 

The Archbishop Murphy Wildcats faced off against the Sehome Mariners in tonight’s 2A state semi-final. Tied until the sixth set of shootout PKs, the Wildcats managed to win off an amazing save by Mycroft. Some WIAA officials were heard after the game saying that, “This was the championship.” And let me tell you, it sure felt like it. 

The wind blew hard against Archbishop Murphy for the entire first half. You could tell from the start it was going to be a long game. With 13 minutes left in the first half, the Mariners had two consecutive penalty kicks outside the 18 yard line, the first saved by Mycroft and the second headed away by junior Diego Rios. The score was 0-0 at halftime. 

In the second half, Mycroft had the ball illegally batted out of his hands by Sehome and the Wildcats were given a goal kick (’65). Two minutes later, a shot richocheted off the post a couple times, with kicks coming from both Rios and a Sehome player, until Mycroft fell on the ball. Gabe Weight (#15, Sehome) received the only yellow card of the game after fouling forward Matt Williams (’75). Later, Weight left the game with a shoulder injury. Regulation ended in a 0-0 tie. 

WIAA rules state that in the case of a tie, two 5 minute overtime periods will be played until one team scores a “golden goal”. After that, it goes to a shootout. 

Both teams came out strong for the first overtime period, the Wildcats mainly on defense against a powerful Sehome. With 38 seconds left, an Archbishop Murphy foul gave the Mariners a penalty kick, just around the 18 yard line. The shot was missed and a corner kick followed. Period one of overtime ended. 

The ball bounced around both sides of the field during the second overtime as Wildcat fans prayed a goal would end the game before a shootout. It didn’t. 

The coaches selected their players, and they stood at midfield, anticipating their turn to possibly win the game for their team. Rios started the Wildcat lineup off strong, netting our first goal. Mycroft stepped up next to defend, successfully blocking Sehome’s first attempt. Williams and Noah Byford (#16, Sehome) made the next two goals, bringing the score to 2-1. A shot by junior Jake Snider hit the post; Mason Rathkamp (#10, Sehome) sunk another goal. 2-2. Jensen Crisler and Parker Buchanan, both captains, tacked on a point each to the score. Kevin Sun and Kiefer Thomas (#12, #14) did the same. 4-4. Mitchell Lovell stepped up next, and although his goal was deflected at first by Sehome goalkeeper, it went in. 5-4. All Mycroft had to do was make this save and Archbishop Murphy would be sent to the state championship for the second year in a row. 

The Archbishop Murphy Wildcats are going back folks. Thanks to a strong team and a phenomenal showing by freshman goalkeeper Daniel Mycroft, they Wildcats are going back to the 2A State Boys Soccer Championship. 

Sophomore Sam Johnson was awarded post-game for his sportsmanship on the field.

Tomorrow at 5pm they will face off against either Quincy or Lindbergh at Sunset Chevrolet Stadium in Sumner. 

Girls Softball goes out swinging

AMHS girls softball was eliminated in the third round of districts last night with a loss to Anacortes. 

At the bottom of the fifth, the Cats were down 12-2. RBIs by Mackenzie Treece, Alyson Matriotti, Maureen Kelly, and Megan Ehlebracht brought the score to 12-6. Matriotti hit a two run triple making it 12-8, the final score of the game.

The girls had won their first game of the district tournament 13-5 against Lynden and lost in the second round to Cedarcrest 8-17. A win against Anacortes yesterday would’ve put them in a game for third place and a trip to state against Lynden. 

The Wildcats will be losing 12 seniors this year, several of whom have been 4 year players. 

AMHS finished the season 16-7. Great season ladies! 

Boys Soccer wins State Quarter-Final

The AMHS boys soccer team is on the brink of playing in the state championship for the second year in a row. With a 3-0 win against Aberdeen last night, the boys are set to play in the semi-finals at Sunset Chevrolet Stadium this Friday, May 27, at 6pm. 

Last year, AMHS took on Fife for the 2A State Championship and won, 3-0. This year the boys have already claimed the league, district, and academic state titles. 

Friday’s win against Aberdeen was led by junior captain and starting forward, Matt Williams. Williams has been the leading scorer for the Wildcats this year and has been recognized as a WIAA Athlete of the week. He plays fast and aggressive, and put the first two goals in the net for the Wildcats (’13 and ’27), assisted by Ryan Henderson and Parker Buchanan. Mitchell Lovell scored the third and final goal of the game with just 10 minutes left in the first half. 

Freshman goal keeper Daniel Mycroft had his 16th shutout game. The Wildcats have only allowed 6 goals in total this season. 

Their semi-final opponent will be the winner of tonight’s game, Sehome vs Ridgefield.