Tukwila, WA – November 15, 2024  In a match filled with tension, skill, and a few testy moments, Clark earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Everett to advance to the final of the regional tournament at Starfire Sports. The game, played under rainy skies and a small but vocal crowd of 214, saw both teams battle fiercely from start to finish, but it was Clark's clinical finishing and strong defensive play that ultimately saw them through.

The game kicked off with both sides feeling each other out. Clark came out the gate on the front foot, creating several chances, including a near miss off the post from JP Warnell in the 4th minute. But it wasn't until the 32nd minute that the game's first goal arrived. A perfectly timed assist from Abraham Alvarez-Cast found Milos Mavrak in space, and the Clark forward made no mistake, slotting it past Everett goalkeeper Paddy Murphy for a 1-0 lead.

Everett, despite being outshot in the first half (11 shots to 4), responded well after the break. Cristiano Whitaker, who had been one of the few bright spots in the first half, found the back of the net in the 54th minute. Lunden Fenster played a beautiful ball across the box, and Whitaker delivered a stunning strike to level the game at 1-1. It was a timely equalizer that put the pressure back on Clark.

However, Clark wasn't rattled. Just nine minutes later, in the 63rd minute, it was Alvarez-Cast again who made the difference. This time, he finished a well-worked team move to put Clark back in the driver's seat at 2-1. The goal came on the back of some excellent link-up play, with Mavrak and Warnell both involved in the build-up.

Everett had their chances to find an equalizer, with multiple corner kicks in the final minutes of the match, but Clark's defense, led by Reece Jones and goalkeeper Jake Bilsborough, stood firm. Bilsborough made several key saves, including one in the 83rd minute on a shot from Caleb Hirata, to preserve his team's lead.

Everett pushed hard in the final minutes, but Clark's defense and their ability to break up play in midfield kept the game from slipping away. In the final play of the match, Clark's Christian Silva had a chance to seal it, but his shot sailed wide of the mark.

As the final whistle blew, Clark celebrated their hard-earned victory, with a scoreline that didn't reflect how close the match had been. The team now moves on to the final, where they will face the winner of Peninsula and Walla Walla.

The Championship game is scheduled for Sunday, November 17th at 4:30pm at Starfire Sports in Tukwila, Washington.

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