Season Update

It's been a fast and furious start to the season and I apologize for this being the first post of the year. I will recap the first four games.



For the third year in a row we opened up our season with non league play against GSL foe University. This has traditionally been a one sided contest so we were happy to take a 1-0 lead into halftime from Sophomore Chandler Mertens first career varsity goal. In the second half the victory was sealed by first year player Javier Gamez. "Javi" burst onto the scene with a 30 yard left footed strike that found the upper corner. Brandon Hale earned his 17th career shutout for the suns and that makes him the all time career leader in that category.



The next day we played the defending league, district and regional champion Pasco. The game was a bit nervy and both teams had a few opportunities in the first half but after 40 minutes had been played it was a 0-0 game. Jarad Brisbin who played his first game of the year pounced on a Jake Zoulek rebound off the cross bar and made the score 1-0. It took ten minutes more for Brisbin to score his second this time off a set piece delivered by Keaton Hale. Pasco fought back and scored two goals. The game didn't end without controversy though. Pasco's first goal should have been called back after a player made contact and interfered with goalkeeper Brandon Hale. Then with three minutes remaining John Zoulek scored the game winner only to have it called back by the head referee.

The game was to be decided in a shootout and unfortunately the Suns came up on the losing end.

Our next game was against another GSL team in Central Valley who are supposed to be one of the top teams in Spokane. Jarad Brisbin opened the scoring in the 19th minute on another assist by Keaton Hale. The lead only lasted for five minutes when CV found the equaliser and the game went into the half 1-1. It only took six minutes before last years team leader in goals scored, sophomore Jake Zoulek found the back of the net for the first time this year. Another highlight of the game was Senior John Zoulek scored his first goal since his freshmen year. The last two years have been injury plagued for John but he never gave up his desire to play for Southridge and when Keaton Hale blasted a low free kick from 40 yards out John got a boot on the ball to cause a deflection that sent the keeper the wrong way. Brisbin wrapped up the scoring with his fourth goal in two games.

The following day Southridge traveled to Pasco to take on Chiawana and this game was interesting as it was the first match up of these two schools and also a match up of the two newest high schools in the area. The game got off to a fast start with four goals scored in the first 14 minutes. The good news was three of them were for Southridge as Jake Zoulek scored twice and Chandler Mertens scored once. John Zoulek wrapped up the first half scoring in the 40th minute and the Suns took a 4-1 lead into the break. Bill Landefeld scored his first goal of the year in the second half and Junior defender Conner Cravens scored his first career varsity goal. You could tell it was his first goal since his freshmen JV days by the celebration that ensued.

So to wrap it up the Suns are 3-1 to start the season and from here on out all the games count. We play at Sunnyside this Saturday and look forward to a tough match with the Grizzlies. This game has become a bit of a rivalry game with Sunnyside leading the all time series three wins to Southridge's two.

Here are the team leaders and where they stand in the league stats.
Jarad Brisbin, four goals 1st in the league.
Jake Zoulek, three goals tied for 2nd in the league.
John Zoulek, Chandler Mertens two goals each and tied for 3rd in the league.
Keaton Hale, four assists 1st in the league.
Bill Landefeld, three assists tied for 2nd in the league.
Jake Zoulek, two assists tied for 3rd in the league.
Brandon Hale has played 330 minutes in goal, posted one shutout and saved 26 times while conceding 5 goals.