TACOMA, WA—The Snohomish County FC Steelheads made a second-half goal stand up to claim a 1-0 win over Tacoma Narrows FC on April 27 at a blustery Wilson High School. Kevin Baron scored the winner for the Steelheads while goalkeepers Gabe Acosta and Alexis Regis Bohorquez shared the shutout. It was the first-ever Western Washington Premier League (WWPL) match for both sides.
Tacoma had a rocket shot that went in called back for offside in the 10th minute. The clubs went back and forth and battled the heavy winds in the first half. Tacoma tried to gain the advantage with a series of corner kicks near the end of the half, but it was 0-0 at the break.
The Steelheads’ offense perked up in the second half. Carlos Rodriguez made a nifty turn but couldn’t quite loft a shot into the goal from close range. Kyle Aure hit the right post with a shot.
Then in the 67th minute a corner kick from Andrew Escalante started the winning goal. Kevin Baron initially tried to head the cross down into the mixer. He missed but stayed with the play and when the ball rolled tantalizingly towards him as it headed for the end line, Kevin lofted it into the middle of the goal mouth. The shot crossed over the goal line before being headed out, and the far linesman immediately signaled a goal.
Glen Moffitt photo sequence of Baron goal
The Steelheads had other chances, including a break-away run for Aure that saw his shot saved. Meanwhile the Snohomish defense was holding its own. The ball was cleared more often than Tacoma shots could get near the Steelheads goalkeepers. When they managed to get through, Acosta and Regis were up to the task. The final whistle blew at 1-0 Steelheads.
The Steelheads have surrendered just one goal over four matches, and that was four minutes in to a 1-1 draw at the start of the season in Wenatchee. Since then the Fish have racked up 356 scoreless minutes.
Conner McWilliams was named Man of the Match for Snohomish as he switched to an outside defensive midfield role and was a key performer in the shutout.
The three road points in a 10-match league season is a healthy start. The Fish are 1-0-0 in WWPL play and 2-0-2 overall. Next up is a home league match at Dick Cardinal Stadium in Smokey Point against the Issaquah Gunners on Saturday May 4 at 4 PM.
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