SEQUIM — The Sequim boys soccer team’s back line took a back seat Friday.
Instead, it was the Wolves’ offense that turned heads in a nonleague game against Forks, scoring three goals in the game’s first 16 minutes for a 4-1 victory.
“We had a good first half,” Sequim coach Dave Brasher said after taking a matchup of 2009 state tournament teams.
“The first team was in for 25-30 minutes, and it felt good.
“I thought we were overmatching them.”
Four different players scored for the Class 2A Wolves (3-1 in league, 6-1 overall) Friday, the first two coming early on with well-executed counter attacks.
That began eight minutes in when Evan Watkins blasted an Aldo Garcia transition cross off the crossbar and into the net.
Minutes later, Daniel Servin found himself all alone in front of the goal after Zane Carey delivered a perfectly-timed through ball at his feet.
The senior then took his time and pushed it past Forks goalkeeper Matthew Ortiz for a 2-0 Sequim lead.
Nick Camporini finished off the Wolves blitzkrieg with a goal in the 15th minute, pinning a Garcia cross with his foot and kicking it into the corner of the goal.
Brasher starting emptying the bench soon thereafter, a three-goal lead more than enough for a Wolves defense that has five shutouts so far this spring.
“We’re looking good,” senior defensive captain Austin Sanford said.
“It’s all about the progression.
“I remember thinking at the beginning of the seasons, ‘Why aren’t we as good as we were?’
[But that] was compared to last year . . . on our playoff game.
“Of course we’re not that good yet, but slowly as the season is going on we’re getting to know each other and the connections are getting made.”
The 1A Spartans were short-handed once again in the loss, bringing just 13 for the match.
That did not include last year’s leading scorer, Wilson Avila-Luna, who has yet to play a game this spring due to ineligibility.
Forks (2-2, 3-4) still managed to come away with one solid distinction.
Junior forward Juan Beltran’s goal, scored from 25 yards out on a breakaway in the 47th minute, was just the second Sequim has given up in regulation this year.
“I’m hoping the team can see that they can play at a higher level than what they have been,” Forks coach Brian Bowers said.
“We’ve just got to figure it out to where we can play at that level for the whole game instead of just in the second half.”
The score would have been even worse for Forks if not for the brilliant saves by Ortiz.
His diving stop of Waylon Lam’s line drive shot 10 yards away was easily the biggest highlight.
Sequim outshot Forks 18-7 on the game, with five of the Spartans’ shots coming in the second half.
“We’re putting the ball on net,” Brasher said. “We got four tonight, so I think the offense is coming.”
The Wolves will certainly need it, with a game at Olympic League leader North Kitsap on Tuesday.
Forks begins an eight-game stretch of SWL-Evergreen Division games to end the season when it hosts Toledo-Winlock on Monday.
“We’ve definitely got the ability to see postseason,” Bowers said.
“It’s just getting people eligible for one, and two, playing at the level we’re capable of the whole time.”
Sequim 4, Forks 1
Forks 0 1 — 1
Sequim 3 1 — 4
Scoring Summary
First half: 1, Sequim, Watkins (Garcia), 8th minute; 2, Sequim, Servin (Carey), 9th minute; 3, Sequim, Camporini (Garcia), 15th minute.
Second Half: 1 Forks, Beltran (Armenta), 47th minute; 4, Sequim, Flores (Carey), 78th minute.