SEQUIM — Eli Berg’s favorite moment of the season is revealing.
It came in the Olympic League seeding tournament when teammate Cameron Chase scored on a header to give Sequim a 2-1 win over North Kitsap on the Vikings’ home field in Poulsbo.
“I didn’t really have anything to do with it,” Berg, a Sequim midfielder, said.
“But it was a great win. Just thrilling.”
The win was important because it guaranteed the Wolves one of the league’s top two seeds at the West Central District tournament.
Not having a direct impact on the glory didn’t make the win any less “thrilling” to Berg.
“For a mild-mannered kid, he’s really competitive,” Sequim coach Dave Brasher said. “He doesn’t like to lose.”
For playing a key role on helping the Wolves win 14 games this season and advance to within one win of the Class 2A state tournament for the second straight year, Berg has been selected as the All-Peninsula Boys Soccer MVP.
He scored two goals and assisted on 11 others, but his value goes far beyond statistics.
“He’s just one of those kids who makes everyone around him better,” Brasher said.
“He sees a pass or two ahead. He has a unique vision of the game: he anticipates what someone will be doing and gets them the ball.
“He puts the ball into a position where they can get to it and make a play.”
Berg said his deft passing was developed out of necessity.
“As everyone got faster, I never got faster,” he said. “I couldn’t rely on my speed, so I had to get better at passing.”
Berg’s passing brought him within two assists of Sequim’s single-season record (13 by Vann Brasher in 2004) and put him in pursuit of the school’s career record of 24, which is held by Vann Brasher (2001-04) and Jeff Catton (2005-08).
Berg has 13 assists in his career, so the school record is within reasonable reach.
“Definitely, now that is a goal,” Berg said. “That’d be awesome.”
Berg said he also would like to score more goals as a senior. With top scorers Thomas Winfield (11 goals) and Chase (nine goals) returning for the Wolves next season, Berg’s primary role will probably remain setting up teammates and controlling the midfield.
He’s fine with that.
“Scoring goals is fun. I’d like to score more,” Berg said.
“But as long as we’re winning games, I’m fine getting the assists.”
Winning, of course, is another goal for next season.
“I want to make that run to state,” Berg said. “We’ve been so close the last two years.”
Even if Berg’s role doesn’t change next season, Brasher expects Berg will be an even better player as a senior because soccer is a year-round endeavor for him.
And this “offseason,” Berg is competing at a higher level of soccer than usual.
After playing for area elite team Storm King Soccer Club for a number of years, Berg tried out for and made the Kitsap Pumas’ U17 A Team in the spring.
He practices with the Pumas twice a week in Poulsbo. The team’s season will continue through about the start of the high school season in March.
Playing soccer year-round isn’t much of a sacrifice for Berg.
“It’s always been something I could do well,” he said of soccer. “It’s something I’ve been able to build my life around.”
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
