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The Update's State Top Ten for 1A/B Boys Soccer:
Here's the way the San Juan Update sees it, as of Monday, Oct. 31 (playoffs begin this week):
1. Overlake (12-1-2) - Beating SAAS 2-1 last week sends Overlake off to the playoffs on a strong note, with Emerald City compatriots University Prep and SAAS nipping at their heels.
2. Friday Harbor (13-1-1) - FHHS played a strong game vs. Seattle Christian Saturday, showing why they belong near the top: a stifling defense that shutout SC, has registered 8 shutouts for the year, and has allowed only five goals in the past five weeks, while scoring 54 goals in 15 games. Their balanced attack features eight different people who have scored, which makes it hard to close down the offense - who do you mark?. And they're hungry - making the Final Four last year and coming home without the top trophy is a motivation to the team which is also this year's state academic champions.
3. Seattle Christian (10-2-1) - The Warriors thrashed the second-place team in the Northwest League, Mount Vernon Christian, 6-0, after tying University Prep and before losing a well-played, disciplined game at Friday Harbor 2-0 on Saturday. They'll make some noise in the playoffs - just watch.
4. University Prep (10-1-5) - the high scoring Pumas finished the season with an uncharacteristic 0-0 tie with Northwest Academy and a 5-0 thumping of Bellevue Christian - they ended with 58 goals for the year, playing in the league with the strongest defenses.
5. Seattle Academy of the Arts (10-3-3) - SAAS kept it close with Overlake last week before losing 2-1 - on any given day, the top three Emerald City teams are contenders, and unranked Northwest could prove a spoiler.
6. Mount Vernon Christian (10-5) - overtime losers to FHHS, then Orcas last week, the Hurricanes were skidding as they lost to Seattle Christian 6-0, before winning Saturday's playoff with Orcas to nail down the league's second spot.
7. Moses Lake Christian (12-4) - Now that the Columbia League season is over, MLC and Riverside can take their game to the other parts of the state to show they are for real.
8. Riverside Christian (13-3) - Second in the Columbia League, RC scored more goals, allowed less goals, and won one more game than rival Moses Lake Christian.
9. Orcas High (10-4) - The Vikings beat league rivals FHHS and MVC by a goal each before beating B school Lopez 5-0, but stumbled in a league playoff to MVC, losing Saturday 2-0.
10. St. George's (9-6) - The Dragons' season ends in a three-way tie for league boss with Northwest Christian (8-5-1) & Valley Christian (8-5). While it would be fair to guess the three would do equally well in the upcoming playoffs, St. George's tasted glory last year, playing in the championship game. The glow from that gives them the edge.
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Here's the way the San Juan Update sees it, as of Wednesday, Oct. 26:
1. Overlake (11-1-2) - They roared back from their only loss with Northwest last week by trouncing a tough Bellevue Christian squad 4-1 - they end the season with a match with #4 Seattle School of the Arts & a possible playoff opponent in a couple of weeks. By allowing only 10 goals this season, they may have the best defense in the state, and defense wins state titles.
2. Friday Harbor (12-1-1) - the Wolverines were 6-1 over a 12-day stretch which included their one season loss, a weary 1-0 setback with a fired up #9 Orcas team last Saturday. FHHS reminded fans why they're successful with a 5-0 win over Coupeville to close out a 9-1 league campaign. They'll test their state aspirations with a visit from #8 Seattle Christian this weekend.
3. University Prep (9-1-4) - the defending champ Pumas have twelve more goals on the season than anyone else in their league, and are reported to be playing stronger in the last couple of weeks. A tie with #8 Seattle Christian last week shows last year's champs can play with anybody this year as well.
4. Seattle Academy of the Arts (9-2-3) - SAAS plays controlled soccer, and makes up for their offense (less than 3 goals a game on average) with a stingy defense (less than one goal a game).
5. Mount Vernon Christian (10-3) - overtime losers to FHHS last week, the Hurricanes showed their improvement since losing to the Wolverines 4-1 three weeks earlier. Only allowed 11 goals this season, but seven were to Friday Harbor.
6. Moses Lake Christian (10-3) - anyone on top of the tough Columbia League deserves attention, but Riverside Christian is tied with them. A tight defense has allowed only a goal a game.
7. Riverside Christian (12-2) - Central Washington's scoring kings with 48 goals - they'll see how they stack up next week with the other side of the state in the playoffs. They'll be hard to shut down.
8. Seattle Christian (9-2-1) - they're not in a league, but played UPrep to a draw last week and face Mount Vernon Christian next.
9. Orcas High (8-3) - knocking off Friday Harbor last week cemented a run for the playoffs for the Vikings, who may be the state's sportsmanship trophy winners at the end of it all. Good people playing good end-of-season ball. Have they peaked? Stay tuned.
10. St. George's (9-5) - The Dragons' up & down season is on the rise in Spokane - they've outscored opponents 14-0 in the last three games.
I'll update the Top Ten next week...let's see who rises, and who falls.
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Here's the way the San Juan Update sees it, as of Saturday, Oct. 15:
1. Overlake (10-0-2) - Their ties were both with University Prep; they've only allowed 7 goals this season.
2. Friday Harbor (8-0-1) - the only other undefeated team in the state; FHHS struggled with #10 Coupeville but came out blazing vs. LaConner and Shoreline Christian. Tough schedule: four games in the next six days.
3. University Prep (6-1-3) - the defending champ Pumas keep coming close with Overlake, eking out a tie last week 1-1.
4. Mount Vernon Christian (8-2) - been on a tear since losing to FHHS; the Hurricanes face the Wolverines next Thursday at their place.
5. Seattle Academy of the Arts (7-2-1) - An impressive 2-0 win over Seattle Christian sets up a chance for rising, as they face Overlake in their season finale in a couple of weeks.
6 & 7. Moses Lake Christian & Riverside Christian (both 8-2) - these two Central Washington schools are twins in record, goals scored (MLC=33, RC=36) and goals allowed (MLC=9; RC=11). Riverside's early season win over Mount Vernon Christian shows why they're here.
8. NW Christian (4-4-1) - The record is deceiving, as they've allowed only 11 goals this year...
9. Seattle Christian (6-2) - these guys will test #2 FHHS, #4 MVC, and #3 UP in their last three games, which will not only affect playoff seeding but show whether these guys are for real.
10. Coupeville (7-5) - these guys are close - they held FHHS to 0-0 for 76 minutes before losing last week.
I'll update the Top Ten next week...let's see who rises, and who falls.
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The Poll: Oct 4, 2005
Far as I know, no one else goes out on a limb to say who the top ten teams are, but here's the way the San Juan Update sees it, as of Tuesday, Oct. 4 after a month of play and a month before the playoffs begin:
1. Overlake (7-0-1) - probably the team to beat; currently in first place in the tough Emerald City League. Their tie was with University Prep; they've only allowed 4 goals this season.
2. Friday Harbor (5-0-1) - the only other undefeated team in the state; an early season match between #1 & #2 was unfortunately scratched, so they may have settle things in the playoffs.
3. St. George's (Spokane) (5-2) - things are tough in eastern Washington for last year's #2 state finisher, but they beat defending state champs University Prep a couple of weeks ago.
4. University Prep (6-1-1) - the defending champs are on a tear, winning their last four by persuasive margins.
5. Mount Vernon Christian (6-2) - #2 in the state's other tough league, the Northwest League, means you ain't a slouch.
6. Seattle Academy of the Arts (5-1-1) - SAAS would love to prove that last year's quarterfinal loss to UP was a fluke; they beat the eventual champs during last season.
7. Moses Lake Christian (6-2)
8. Riverside Christian (6-2)
9. Seattle Christian (6-1)
10. Coupeville (5-3)