PORT ANGELES — John Textor wanted to be a part of the action in his senior season.
In Thursday’s loser-out playoff at Civic Field, the goalkeeper turned striker provided all the fireworks the Sequim Wolves needed to move one win away from their second straight trip to the Class 2A boys soccer state tournament.
Textor netted a pair of goals in the game’s first 21 minutes, and the Sequim defense held on from there for a 2-1 victory over the Washington Patriots in 2A West Central District play.
The win puts the Wolves (11-5 overall) in a loser-out, winner-to-state match against 2A Nisqually League champion Steilacoom (14-2) at Franklin Pierce Stadium in Tacoma on Saturday.
“The first 20 minutes was probably the best we’ve played all year,” Sequim coach Dave Brasher said.
“We kind of got worn down [after that]. We’re not in quite the best shape, but hopefully we’ll keep it going here.
“If we can continue to play like we did in the first 20 minutes, I think we’ll be tough to beat.”
Textor began this season as one of Sequim’s two goalkeepers, having returned to the team after a year away from the pitch.
Yet the rangy three-sport athlete — Textor starred for both the football and basketball teams — found himself bored in net.
He told Brasher he wanted in on the action up front, and a few games into the season Textor was added to the attack.
It’s a decision that’s paid off for Brasher’s Wolves ever since.
“With soccer, it’s really not as hard as other sports to get back on track,” said Textor, who entered Tuesday’s match as the Wolves’ leading scorer with six goals.
“After the first couple of games I was starting to feel it again and just get that groove back, I guess.”
Textor didn’t wait very long to add goals seven and eight on Tuesday night.
First, he ran on to a brilliant cross from Jerry Azanza out of the corner, heading the ball home in the eighth minute for a 1-0 lead.
Long-range goal
Textor added another score 13 minutes later, banging home a long-distance shot off a Daniel Servin assist that rattled off the post and in.
“It was really a great assist by Jerry [on the first goal],” Textor said.
“He just made a really great left-footed cross. It was just right to me in stride, and I just put it off my head into the goal.
“On the second goal, I was thinking about the Olympic game where I had three goals all from about three 30 [yards] or behind. I figured why not take a chance if I know I can make it, and I ended up making it.”
Washington scored a few minutes later after Eol Han’s shot deflected off of a Sequim defender and in.
But that was all the goals either team would get as each team’s defense tightened from there.
“Fifteen minutes into the game I was thinking, ‘How many are we going to score?'” Brasher said. “But we defended well.
“Overall, I thought we played pretty darn good.”
Washington had its chances to score in the second half, putting the Wolves on their heels at times, but so did Sequim.
The Patriots’ best chance came with less than two minutes to go when a point-blank shot from 15 yards out ricocheted off the top post.
The ball was quickly cleared by the Sequim defense, and the final threat was averted.
The referee blew the final whistle a few minutes later, sealing the Wolves’ second straight elimination game victory over Washington.
Sequim beat the Patriots 1-0 in a winner-to-state district playoff last season.
“[The Patriots] have played Steilacoom tough three times this season, so it’s going to be a tough game [Saturday],” Brasher said.
Sequim is now 5-1 since suffering through an 0-3 losing streak midway through the season.
“I think that sort of opened up our eyes a little bit that teams aren’t going to just lay down for us,” Textor said of the skid.
“Each game we’ve been getting better, finding things we need to work on and it’s been showing on the games we’ve won.”
Sequim 2, Washington 1
Washington 1 0 — 1
Sequim 2 0 — 2
Scoring Summary
First half: 1, Sequim, Textor (Azanza), 8th minute; 2, Sequim, Textor (Servin), 21st minute; 1, Washington, Han, 27th minute.
Second Half: No scoring.
Sequim is now 5-1 since suffering through an 0-3 losing streak midway through the season.
Montesano 1, Forks 0
KALAMA — The Spartans lost a heartbreaker in the loser-out Southwest Washington District game Thursday.
Forks (7-10) outshot Montesano 18-10 but Montesano had the one shot that counted, a high-drop and header at the 38th minute.
“That was the only quality attempt they had but we had a couple of quality shots,” Forks coach Brian Bowers said.
“They got the one that fell, though, and we didn’t.”
Goalkeeper Mathew Ortiz had eight saves for the Spartans.
Ortiz is one of six seniors who have played their last game for Forks.
The other five are Jose Perez, Fernando Hernandez, Victor Armenta, Tim Cortani and Angel Beltran.
“That’s pretty much my whole defense plus one midfieler/forward,” Bowers said. “It’s my starting defense and goalkeeper.
“We will have to put together a new defense next year. We will be OK, though, in midfield/forward positions.”
Softball North Mason 9, Sequim 4
KINGSTON — The powerhouse Bulldogs beat the Wolves in a battle of the Olympic League softball giants in a district seeding game Thursday at Kingston High School.
North Mason jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and Sequim was in too big of a hole to escape against one of the top teams in the state.
The Belfair school led the whole way, 5-1 after one inning, 5-2 after three and 8-2 after four.
The Bulldogs have lost one game this year and that was to the Wolves.
Sequim now will be the Olympic League’s No. 2 Class 2A team at the West Central District championships at Sprinker Recreation Area in Tacoma.
The Wolves (18-3) open district play against Eatonville on May 21.
Sequim went 3-1 at districts last year and has gone to the state tourney six times recently, including the last three years.
Bulldog ace Emily Anderson held the Wolves to six hits and four runs while Sequim ace Demiree Briones (14-3) took the loss.
The Wolves had an uncharacteristic six errors in the game.
Lea Hopson had two hits in the game for the Wolves while Rylleigh Zbaraschuk, Cindy Miller, Chelsea Winfield and Lauren Hendrickson all had one hit each.
