SUMNER--Controversy shrouded the ending to a sensational season for the Tyee boys soccer team.

The Totems were cruising along with a 1-0 lead in the Class 2A state championship game Saturday when the opposing Cheney Blackhawks tied it on a disputed goal with 10:44 to go in the first half.

The two teams remained in a 1-1 tie through regulation time, bringing the game down to whoever could score first in two five minute overtime periods.

It was decided on a goal by Cheney's Ian Scimandl with 1:43 left in the first overtime, as he took a Micah Weller assist and drilled it in one-on-one with freshman Tyee goalie Alan Mora from four yards out.

But whether or not Cheney really scored the first goal to tie it and send the game into overtime is where the controversy came in.

"We felt the goal should be called back," said Totems head coach Allen Rider. "We had an official protest and the call didn't go our way."

The protest was filed at halftime, and caused a delay of an extra 20 minutes for the teams to return to action on the Sunset Chev Stadium turf.

The controversy will remain for as long as the game is remembered.

Oliver Smith of the Blackhawks went to the turf with an injury, but the officials did not call time out. Tyee then booted the ball out of bounds to stop play and allow Smith to be cared for.

But the ensuing throw-in by Cheney was taken right away and the clock was not stopped.

Micah Weller then took the ball and dribbled around a Tyee defense that stood frozen and confused.

Mora was the only Totems player who reacted, going up against Weller only to have him boot the ball over his head and into the net to tie it.

The Totem contingent protested both immediately and in the formal filing at halftime, but to no avail.

"It's not something I want to comment about," said coach Rider of the specifics of the play.

Many onlookers commented that Tyee should have won, however.
The Totems had taken the 1-0 lead with 27:02 remaining in the first half.

Liam Maginniss was fed a long pass from Jose Aguiniga on the left and fired it into the right back corner from 20 yards away.

After Weller followed with his goal, both teams battled the rest of the way and had more than their share of near misses.

Tyee wound up outshooting the Blackhawks, 10-9, for the game.

"I'm definitely proud of the guys," said Rider after the dust settled. "They played well, not just this game but every game."

The games the Totems played well in definitely included their 1-0 semifinal victory over Sedro-Woolley the night before.

The action was not decided until a shootout, which Tyee won by a 3-1 margin with the help of two saves by Mora, who was unexpectedly playing in the absence of starting senior goalie Carlos Reyes.

Reyes suffered a broken nose during regulation time and went back into the game, only to suffer a hamstring pull during overtime.

Kyle Witzel of the Cubs took the first attempt of the penalty kick shootout and missed left, then Timmy Moser of Tyee's shot went in for a 1-0 lead after the first round.

Isaac Swenson tied it for Sedro-Woolley to start the second round, but Maginniss answered with a shot to the right of Cubs goalie Michael Moser, who dove left.

Mora followed with his first save, which came on a shot by Jackson Price, before Nef Camacho of the Totems shot to the left of Moser, who dove right this time.

Mora then won it with another save, sending the Totems jumping into a pile up in celebration.

Thus Tyee's season was extended into the championship, only to have the team come in second to the Blackhawks of Cheney High School in Eastern Washington.

"My guys are unbelievable," said coach Rider after the Totems. "They do what they can, and we had a good support section cheering us on."
Rider was assisted by Seyti Sidibay, and Tyee's athletic director is former soccer coach John Yellam.

Players on the Totems' state roster included Alan Mora, Carlos Reyes, Freddi Altamirano, Jose Navarro, Jesus Leon, Enrique Navarro, Khalid Mohamed, Jose Aguiniga, John Macias, Adama Kante, Eduardo Pelayo, Hamidou Kante, Ibrahima Sow, Nebiu Kinfu, Yantan Yoseph, Osvaldo Lopez, Ever Palma, Jose Garcia, Machoud Zakari, Glodi Kingombee Pongo and Liam Maginniss.