The following is a submission from Michael Howard, a junior at Providence Classical Christian School in Kirkland.
Late in August, ten boys came together to form this year’s Providence Classical Christian boys soccer team.
The biggest question going into the season was if Providence would be able to field a team. Luckily for them, two more joined the following week, including sophomore Stephan Plante and eighth grader Cole Lyshol. The team now consisted of two seniors, four juniors, two sophomores, three freshmen, and an eighth grader—none of them stood taller than six foot and only half of them came with over two years of experience.
They were short on experience but big on determination, but Coach Gordon England saw the grit and potential in his players from day one. He believed in each player, developed high expectations for all of them, and fueled the team to their unlikely success.
After much anticipation, the first game of the season arrived. Providence had no subs and four players on the roster who had never played a high school soccer game. These odds could have defined the season for the soccer team, but the team defied them through their perseverance and hard work.
The boys cruised through their first game 13-0 from goals from senior Joe Moisant and freshman Benjamin Brokaw, and they never looked back. They kept a 1-0 mindset throughout their season and stayed “humble and hungry,” as Coach Nathan Morris would say.
The next game, however, was the real test. It was the game in which Providence found their identity: defense, defense, defense. Like many of their games this season, Providence won 1-0 with their only goal coming from sophomore Bradley Johnson. The defense kept Orcas Island scoreless for 80 minutes. Game one was not a fluke for Providence. The team realized they had something going for them, yet they had also lots of room for improvement.
Providence continued winning soccer games. No opponent could break the stout defensive wall led by senior goalkeeper Jackson Morris and his speedy defense — juniors Justin Hatcher, Michael Howard, Caleb Pineda, and 8th grader Cole Lyshol — until the sixth game of the season against Friday Harbor. This ended Providence’s shutout season, but the team won 3-1 and continue their winning season.
Eight games in, Providence was still undefeated and had the first shot of the season at their rivals, Mount Vernon. Not having beat them since 2012, the tide changed for Providence, who played one of their best games all year, beating their opponents 1-0 off a goal from freshman Jackson Letsche. It was not until the thirteenth game of the season, where the boys faced MVC again, that for the first time, they both lost a game and gave up more than one goal.
Providence finished the regular season 13-1 tied with Mount Vernon for the league championship. Providence allowed seven goals and yet the defensive-minded team also scored fifty-eight during the regular season. Moisant led the league in scoring (29), junior Landon Butaud led in assists (16), and Morris led in shutouts (10). The unlikely champions took the season one game at a time and already exceeded expectations with their regular season success.
With the season over, playoffs arrived. The scrappy, Providence team who dominated in league play looked forward to the challenge with the hopes of making it past quarterfinals, a position no player on the team had experienced. Their first matchup came against Life Christian, who they easily handled 3-1, including a goal from freshman Preston Robertstad, but the challenges grew more difficult. Providence’s next opponents were Crosspoint, where Providence suffered a tough 1-0 loss, which was their first scoreless game of the year. The very next game they faced off against Mount Vernon for the third time and lost another nail-biter 1-0.
But those losses didn’t matter. Because of the high seeding from league play, Providence still made it to the state quarterfinals for the eighth year in a row. A game against a competitive, highly skilled Prescott team was no easy task for Providence.
Having come so far with this young, inexperienced team, the boys never doubted and never gave up; however, this was the end of their journey. Providence lost 4-1, their heads held high. They had nothing to lose, looked adversity in the eye, and fought to the last second. It was a learning experience for the boys; another year of disappointment, but also another opportunity to give God the glory for all the success He allowed them to accomplish.
Coach Morris won 1B Northwest League “Coach of the Year,” but not without the help of Coach England and Coach Johnny Godoy.
Recognizing the efforts of a solid group of veterans, all of the juniors and seniors were selected to either the all-district 1st team or 2nd team. Moisant came away with a well-deserved “Player of the Year” award.
Moisant, who plans to play soccer for The Masters University next fall, is a talented soccer player, but his leadership and character on and off the field surpassed all his soccer skills. Seniors Moisant and Morris will be missed, as they were cornerstones of the team and its success, but Providence still looks forward to next season and tackling some unfinished business.
