THURSTON – The Springfield boys soccer team defeated Thurston 2-0 last week, and hoped the victory would lead to a Midwestern League title for the second consecutive year.
“Winning this game and winning the next game against Crater on Saturday can hopefully give us more opportunities,” coach Juan Gonzalez said.
It was not to be, as the Millers later lost 1-0 to Crater on Saturday; SHS still finished second in league play and recorded a 7-4-2 overall record.
Ashland, ranked fifth in the state, won the conference title. The Millers split the two-game season series with the Grizzlies during the regular season.
On Thursday night, Gonzalez said the idea was to get the offense going in the second half, which has been a pattern for this team. He said he wasn’t necessarily worried when the game was scoreless at halftime.
“Usually this is how it happens,” he said. “We start slow, and then things pick up at the end. We knew it had to come at any point.”
PATRICK EDMISON / PHOTO PROVIDED
Christopher Lopez finally broke open the game in the second half. Anthony Hernandez Diaz took a free kick on Thurston’s side of the field. Malaipet Xayaveth threw his body out and collided with Thurston goalkeeper Samuel Castanza. The ball got lost in the fray, and Lopez followed up to hit the back of the net.
After Springfield’s score, the Millers started to control the tempo and just minutes later Easton Sankey scored the second goal.
Thurston recorded its second consecutive losing season. Its last winning season was in 2023 at 7-5-3.
First-year head coach Phil Sweeney said he is striving for a rebuilding mindset – one focused on culture.
“We may not have had a winning season, but I want them to walk away still having the love for the game,” he said.
For Sweeney that looks like fostering bonds and community vs. the record and stats. However, he acknowledges that it will be a long road ahead. For now, he’s measuring the small steps and successes.
“My objective was to have a better season than last season,” Sweeney said. “But that’s not going to work out anymore. …I just want to make sure the boys can look back and say, ‘I had a really good experience.’”
The Millers eye a No. 13 seed in the state playoffs, in which they will hit the road to play the No. 3 seed in the first round on Nov. 5.
