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JD Hauenstein boots the ball downfield as teammate Noah Whitman looks on. The pair were among major contributors to the Central Valley soccer team’s second place finish at the 4A state tournament in May.

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CV soccer surges to brink of title
6/30/2015 10:57:29 AM

By Mike Vlahovich
Splash Contributor

The theme never varies for Central Valley soccer coach Andres Monrroy, even if the seasons do. The seasons are like a ladder, his players taking one step at a time - each step a completed goal - until reaching the final rung at the top.

The ladder for this spring's boys team was to improve on last season, when the Bears lost in the first round of the State 4A tournament.

"We start with small goals," Monrroy said. "In the short term, the first goal was to win the Greater Spokane League undefeated."

They did.

"Then we were able to win district, so we got goal number two," he continued. "Our third goal was to win regionals, and we got it done. Then our fourth goal was to make it to the final four. After that, our goal was to win the state championship."

The final step on the ladder, however, proved out of reach. After winning 19 straight games, the Bears fell agonizingly short, losing 3-1 for the state championship.

Monrroy's mantra was the same in conversation last fall after his girls team completed a second straight State 4A championship. Take one step at a time.

Two finalists - a state champion and second place during the same school season; not a bad year's work, eh, coach?

"Even though we didn't win it, we felt we gave it our all," Monrroy said. "We felt we were the best team on the field. Sometimes the score doesn't reflect that. That happens in soccer sometimes."

Going undefeated during the regular season was special in itself. In his eight years as CV's boys and girls coach, Monrroy couldn't remember it happening, "but don't take my word for it."

It is unlikely in the Greater Spokane League's history that a boys soccer team was undefeated up to the state finale.

The Bears were dominant in winning 19 straight matches. In seventeen of those, they allowed but one goal or fewer, including 10 shutouts. The run began with a 4-0 win over Wenatchee in the season opener and 1-0 victory over Wenatchee in the state semifinals. 

There were some close calls in the playoffs, the Bears winning four of five by a goal, including over Pasco in overtime, before reaching the finale. 

They led 1-0 until midway through the second half against Snohomish in that one, but gave up three goals during a 10-minute span to the repeat champions.

"Losing the last game is disappointing, obviously, especially for the seniors," Monrroy said. "As a coach I was very proud to watch them play."

Three seniors, who played as freshmen when CV placed fourth in 2012 - forward Brian Choate, defenders Braden Corigliano and Gabe Grabowski - he said, provided both leadership and state experience. They were among six seniors on a roster of 21, including Evan Kern and goalkeeper Andrew Enzler.

"The seniors did an amazing job," Monrroy said. "I was very fortunate to have those three who led us."

Choate scored nine goals and had 11 assists based on reported match scores. Kern scored three goals and had eight assists. Since CV's offense begins at the back, the defenders kick-started things.

But youngsters also made major contributions. Three year starter, junior JD Hauenstein, was the Bears' leading scorer with 15 goals. And … 

"He scored (fewer) goals than early in the season. We lost one of our midfielders and had to move JD to the middle," Monrroy said. "He had to be a passer and was back playing defense and did an amazing job."

Juniors Nathan Grinalds scored eight goals and nine assists, and Chase Reidt had five and two. Sophomore Noah Whitman, who started the season as a substitute, Monrroy said, worked his way into the starting lineup and added nine goals (four during postseason) and five assists. Freshman RJ Stretch gained valuable time in midfield. Those are but a sampling of the 15 underclassmen that dampened their feet wet and bode well for the future.

"We feel we can compete and wouldn't be surprised if we repeated," Monrroy said.

As head coach of both boys and girls teams, his teams have combined to make nine state appearances.

So what's the secret of his success, particularly when melding talented players from various club programs with different coaches and different philosophies?

"If I had a secret I wouldn't tell you because (other) coaches (would know)," he said with a laugh. Seriously, he added, "It's nothing different than a national team coach does. He has players from different clubs playing together and has to have them buy into the system."

Monrroy seems able to do that. The Bears' roster is filled with talented players willing to buy into his style. 

"We're one program, we play for CV," he said.

Foremost, he says, it's a matter of building team chemistry - which happens during offseason - then getting players to adopt an offensive style perhaps foreign to them.

CV's disciplined offense is "possession with a purpose," Monrroy says, similar to the German national team. It starts with the defenders in the back and works its way to midfielders and forwards with ball movement and give-and-goes.

Monrroy eschews sending the ball long up field: "We always build to an attack. From a coaching perspective, (it's) a good style of play."

And successful, with CV having won back-to-back girls state championships and a boys team that was undefeated until the title game this spring.

"How many high schools can say that?" Monrroy asked. "I'm very proud of the work we accomplished this year."

And following a month's rest, he says he'll be ready to begin all over. 


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