SNOHOMISH Sometime between Snohomishs 2-0 halftime lead and their third goal at the 52-minute mark, it started to rain.
The weather was an appropriate metaphor for the M-P soccer teams mood.
Coming off draws against Arlington and Oak Harbor, the Tomahawks tried to regain their momentum with a big win on Wesco North-leading Snohomishs home turf. Instead, they came away with a five-goal deficit and self-doubt.
M-P soccer coach Geoff Kittle attributed part of their 5-0 loss to heightened expectations after a string of wins launched the team into the conference elite.
I think a lot of it has to do with a little pressure that weve put on ourselves, he said. I think the result of this game was build up from the games before, because we really did play an outstanding game at Oak Harbor. I think we outshot Oak Harbor probably about 24 to four on goal. To not win that game was pretty tough. I think that was still lingering in their heads.
Kittle compared the Sept. 29 match to his teams 3-0 victory earlier in the season at Cascade. In that game, M-P played their way to three goals in 25 minutes.
I think it was like that for Snohomish, he said. When you look at the goals they got, they had really great shots. Everything was going right for them. I dont think the game would be the same if we played them again.
There was a bright spot, kind of, for M-P in the game. While four of Snohomishs goals came from restarts including the third and fourth goal from corner kicks Kittle said it takes just minor adjustments to better defend those plays.
Kittle added that he was proud of senior Kassandra Riozzis determination throughout the game.
I really think that Kassandra Riozzi played hard the entire game. She never gave up the entire game, he said. One of our goals going into the second half was to score on them since they havent been scored on all season. I thought our girls put in a hard effort. I think Kassandra, the entire game, played her heart out.
Despite the teams low morale, or perhaps because of it, Kittle said he expects the team to look a lot better in the next few games.
This weeks a new week, so the girls will be excited to play. Once the girls relax a little bit and focus, I think theyre going to do fine, he said. I think we just need to put less pressure on ourselves.