EVERETT — “You know, I believe that these guys are a lot better than everybody thinks we are. I think every other team thinks we’re underdogs,” said Arlington soccer coach Mike Gudgeon.
Trailing 1-0 for 15 minutes, the Arlington soccer team battled for a full 80 minutes at Cascade, emerging with a 4-3 win at Everett Memorial Stadium April 10.
It was the first time Arlington had defeated Cascade since senior Robert O’Day joined the team.
“It’s the most amazing feeling,” said O’Day, who scored the team’s first goal to tie things up 1-1 in the 19th minute. “We’re here to compete.”
O’Day’s goal came on a rebound from the Cascade goalkeeper’s glove as he tried to jump on an attempt by Arlington forward David Lopez. He was unable to grab onto the ball, allowing O’Day to slide a goal into the left side of the net.
But while underdogs play with something to prove, neither the players nor coach consider themselves such.
“These guys are not underdogs. They are great players and they’re starting to see that they are and believe in themselves,” Gudgeon said.
It took less than a minute for Arlington to drive the ball down to the Bruins’ goal again, where junior midfielder Juan Guadarrama headed the ball in for a 2-1 advantage.
In the 24th minute, Cascade’s Conner Skibeness tied it up again for a 2-2 score that would last almost 10 minutes into the second half. It was there Jake Smith was awarded a penalty kick, and scored to put the Eagles up again, 3-2. Once again, Skibeness answered for Cascade.
For another 20-some minutes, the teams went back and forth, the keepers exchanging saves. Then, in the 77th minute, senior James Chesnutt scored for Arlington, assisted by Daniel Coleman. Another big save from junior keeper Cory Ferris prevented overtime.
“We want it as bad as anyone else,” Chesnutt said after the game.
With the win, Arlington avenged their 1-0 loss at home in the second game of the season. With a 2-0 win over Oak Harbor a day later, the boys have a 5-3 record heading into a six-game home stand.
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