Saturday, May. 16, 2009

Kennewick soccer views sophomore as keeper of promise

By Jack Millikin, Herald staff writer

KENNEWICK — Jared Gower sees dead people.

At least he did Thursday during a visit to the Washington State University College of Sciences cadaver lab, where the sophomore honors student got his first look at a lifeless human body as part of his sports medicine class at Kennewick High School.

"It was a little different than I thought. It didn't look real," said Gower, who plans to study sports medicine once he enters college. "But I got to hold a brain, a heart and a liver."

Lately, the sophomore has his finger on the pulse of the Lions soccer team, which is beating strong thanks in part to Gower's efforts as goalkeeper.

In a 2-1 shootout win over Walla Walla on Tuesday, Gower dived to his right for a clutch tip-save of Adrian Tello's eighth-round kick and then clinched the shootout win with a low shot past Blue Devils' keeper Andrew Glaeser.

Actually, Gower was called on for more heroics after officials lost track of the goal count. So the lanky 6-foot-3 goalie calmly made a second-straight stop, this time on Joshua Bates' drive, to help Kennewick secure the win.

"He's a steady Eddie," said Kennewick coach Dwight Brayton. "You know he's back there, and you know he's going to take care of you.

"Sometimes I forget he's a sophomore."

Gower has played some big games with the Three Rivers Celtic, a P-1 U-17 club team coached by Judd Virden, but his biggest game to date may be this weekend.

The Lions (10-8) will make their second regional playoff berth in school history, and will meet Pasco (15-0) -- the second-ranked team in the nation in the latest NSCAA/adidas poll -- at 1 p.m. today at Edgar Brown Stadium.

"I'm excited for it," said Gower, who has recorded a 1.40 goals-against average and two shutouts in 1,260 minutes this season. "You have to think of it like any other game. Otherwise, you worry about all the little details and you won't play as well."

The matchup will be an interesting contrast in keepers, with the taller Gower against Pasco's Emmanuel Martinez, who at 5-7 often gives up several inches to opponents but provides outstanding numbers (0.21 GAA in 1,210 minutes, 13 SO).

"Gower's a good goalie. I've seen him play a bit in club," said Bulldogs coach Mike Pardini. "He's a prototype at 6-3 and he's great in the air, but Emmanuel's probably better on the ground."

One of Gower's strengths has been his poise during penalty kicks and shootouts. Brayton claims that he can count on his keeper to stop at least two spot kicks. But Gower feels confident during set plays and breakaways as well.

"Set plays are the big mental tests," Gower said. "If there's a breakdown, that's when teams score. I just try to keep the same mindset throughout the game.

"If I get scored on, I don't let it bother me because I know we'll get it back."

Gower continues a family tradition in the Kennewick net, as brother John started in goal in 2007 as a junior but broke his wrist midway through his senior season. But a winning tradition has been lacking for a program that hadn't seen a winning season since 1996.

Thanks to Brayton's new vision and a solid team chemistry, the Lions are ready to start turning the program around, and the team will look to Gower to be a big part of that resurgence.

"He works as hard as any of the field players," said defender Nick Romjue, one of three seniors on the team along with forward Daniel Rojo and Alberto Oliva. "I've never played with a goalie who works as hard as he does."

Gower's work doesn't stop on the field. Rojo says that Gower will often tape up his ankle before practices and games.

"Our trainer does some pretty nasty tape jobs, so I'll fix them up," Gower said.

Chalk up yet another save for Gower.