Owls reach the mountaintop on the soccer pitch

Overlake wins back-to-back Class 1A state soccer titles.

By Shaun Scott • May 30, 2018 8:30 am
Shaun Scott, staff photo The Overlake Owls boys soccer team hoists the state championship trophy following their convincing 3-0 victory against the Wahluke Warriors in the Class 1A state soccer championship game on May 26 at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner.
Shaun Scott, staff photo The Overlake Owls boys soccer team hoists the state championship trophy following their convincing 3-0 victory against the Wahluke Warriors in the Class 1A state soccer championship game on May 26 at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner.

For the second consecutive season the Overlake Owls boys soccer team reached the absolute pinnacle on the soccer pitch.

Overlake cruised to a 3-0 victory against the Wahluke Warriors in the Class 1A state title game on May 26 at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner. It was the second year in a row the Owls earned a win against the Warriors in the championship game. Overlake players Esteban Sanchez (28th minute), Roman Peterson (56th minute) and Alex Martin (78th minute) scored a goal apiece in the triumph for the Owls. Overlake, which lost to Wahluke 1-0 in a non-league game on March 17, were excited about the rematch with everything on the line.

“That actually played in our favor. You could say we were underdogs against them. They were confident coming on to the pitch and they thought they could beat us, but we definitely had the edge,” Sanchez said.

With the Owls leading 1-0 in the first half, Overlake goalie Luke Brezak made a courageous save, coming out of the goal-box to block a shot from Wahluke forward Jerardo Guerrero in the 34th minute of play. Guerrero appeared to have a sure goal until Brezak sacrificed his body as the shot on goal caromed off of his chest. Owls head coach Scott Lane said his team surrendered just six goals all season. Brezak and Lucas Rojas split time between the posts throughout the entire season. Brezak played goalie in the first half and Rojas played goalie the entire second half.

“Both of those guys have come up big on separate occasions. They train day in and day out together and they’ve raised the standard,” Lane said of his last line of defense.

Sanchez echoed Lane’s sentiment.

“The goalies are incredible. Luke Brezak won league MVP and that is definitely a testament to his ability. Lucas Rojas is an outstanding keeper too. The backline is great too. We got a lot of talent back there,” Sanchez said.

Winning back to back titles was a special moment for the Owls. Before the trophy presentation took place, Owls players dumped an ice bucket of water on Lane in a celebration nobody will ever forget.

“They deserve so much credit. They worked so hard. For them to get another trophy is special,” Lane said of his team.