Undefeated Connell into 1A state soccer final four

After sweeping past Chelan and La Center at home in the first two rounds of the Class 1A state soccer tournament, the undefeated Connell boys are taking their high-voltage act on the road.

At 2 p.m. Friday at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner, Connell (20-0) will face defending champion Highland (16-3-1) in the first state semifinal. Seattle Academy (14-6) will play University Prep (14-2-1) at 4 p.m.

There are several key stats working in the Eagles’ favor as they seek their third state title and the first since winning back-to-back 2A championships in 2002 and ’03.

Eleven of Connell’s 20 wins have been shutouts. The Eagles have outscored opponents 96-11.

But this is the round in which their state title hopes were derailed last year.

Highland beat Connell 2-0 in the state semifinals and then defeated Bellevue Christian 2-1 in a shootout for the championship. Connell took third place with a 2-0 win over Klahowya.

This will be the third time the Eagles have faced the Scotties this season. Connell won 4-1 on March 15, then beat Highland 1-0 in a shootout for the SCAC district title May 12.

Senior goalkeeper and all-SCAC East MVP Josue Vargas headlines a group of eight Connell all-leaguers.

Senior midfielders Lenin Guzman and Gerardo Reyes joined Vargas and junior forward Alexis Ayuso on the first team. Junior defender Ariel Barragan, midfielders Jose Fraga (senior) and Adrian Mendiola (junior), and junior forward Pablo Gil were on the second team.

Eagles coach Hugo Garcia will bookend the year with another trip to the state final four. Garcia coached the Connell girls to a fourth-place finish in November at Shoreline Stadium.

This story was originally published May 26, 2016 at 6:41 PM with the headline "Undefeated Connell into 1A state soccer final four."