AA Boys Soccer Playoffs -- Mt. Vernon Ousts Monroe

EVERETT - Goalkeeper Matt Yeoman's save gave the Mount Vernon Bulldogs a trip to the Class AA boys state soccer semifinals last night.

The Bulldogs beat the Monroe Bearcats 1-0 in a penalty-kick shootout at Mariner High School.

"What a save," Mount Vernon coach Darren Bell said as the Bulldogs celebrated on the sidelines. "That was big money, wasn't it?"

After four shooters in the shootout, the Bulldogs led 3-2. Bryan Olson, trying to keep the Bearcats alive, fired a shot toward the right of the net. Yeoman dived and blocked the shot.

"I was psyching myself up about where he was going to place the ball," Yeoman said. "I didn't even look at his feet. I said, `I'm just going to attack the ball.' "

Before the shootout, Bell and Yeoman chatted. "I told him if they score more goals than us, they are going to win," Bell recalled. "He said, `OK, I'll save us.' It was pure instinct."

Mount Vernon (17-1) appeared to have the shootout won after three shooters. It led 3-1 on goals by Juan Fujardo, Walter Martinez and Luke Rust. Garrett Pagon scored Monroe's goal.

After Rene Carreon missed for Mount Vernon, Jake Carswell gave Monroe new life with a goal and a 3-2 score. Then Yeoman blocked Olson's shot.

"It was a heck of a way to end a season," Momroe Coach Bill Davidson said. "They are an excellent team. We came into the season unranked, we won WesCo and advanced this far."

Highline 2, Olympia 1, shootout - Highline scored on the fifth penalty kick, by Adam Ashby, as the Pirates (14-0-2) ousted Olympia (13-4-2) in the quarterfinals and advanced to next Friday's semifinals against Mount Vernon. Highline's Stan Thesenvitz scored with three seconds left in regulation for a 1-1 tie. Peter Bergford scored for Olympia.

Sehome 5, Blanchet 2 - Brian Dehnert scored tewice and Paul Seilo, Kurt Swanson and Mike Lowery each added a goal for Sehome (17-2). Bryan Thompson and Dave Cutler scored for Blanchet (11-6-4).

TODAY'S QUARTERFINALS

East Valley (Yakima) vs. West Valley (Yakima) at Selah, 12 p.m. SEMIFINAL PAIRINGS

Friday at East Valley H.S. (Spokane) - Mount Vernon vs. Highline; Sehome vs. East Valley-West Valley winner.