For the last two years, the Auburn Mountainview Lions have shocked the soccer world. As the No. 17 team in the state tournament and now as the No. 15, they have advanced to the final four.

“It’s all because of these boys, it’s all them. I facilitate and be the coach that they need me to be, but really they are the ones that are bringing everything to the table. The are the best group, as a whole, that we have ever had. The way they come together and love each other is amazing,” Manager Joey West said.

But the search for a state title will have to wait another year as their state champion hopes were dashed in the semifinals for the second straight year, this time by Mercer Island, 2-0, on May 30 at Sparks Stadium.

“This one really hurt. We thought we had them. We thought we could do something special today,” West said.

Auburn Mountainview knew they were the underdogs — they have been all tournament. But that didn’t slow them down, and if anything it added fuel to the fire. A win over Ridgeline to start, followed by a shootout win over No. 2 Heritage and a 3-0 drubbing of Gig Harbor, put the Lions into the final four.

“It was truly something special to see,” senior Sergio Mercado said.

This season was West’s 15th season at the helm of the club, a tenure that has built a program and a culture of success.

“The seniors are a special group, they mean a lot. The connections we have made the last two runs and just how many games we have played is insane. They are just a bunch of dawgs that love to fight together. Both seasons we went through the last place in districts and made the final four, just because they like to get in those battles,” West said.

For the senior class, to be part of two final four appearances like this, especially back-to-back, is extremely special.

“We have a joke that all of us started on JV, and we have all grown together at the same time. We have seen each other go from JV players to varsity players, to key varsity players to the best. We might not be in the same friend groups in school, but we still have that amazing connection and love each other to the max,” Mercado said.

In the first half, the two sides traded opportunities, but headed to the locker rooms scoreless.

“At the end of the first half we were killing them, going at them and unlucky to not get a goal after how many shots. We went in there wanting to continue right where we left off. Unfortunately that didn’t happen,” Mercado said.

Mercer Island downed Auburn Mountainview rival Kent-Meridian, 6-1, in the round of 16 ,and to be level at halftime was a good spot for the Lions.

“In the first 10 minutes I think we had like five shots on goal and it didn’t amount to anything. If one of those goes in, it changes the whole game and the way we play,” West said.

The Islanders were a team built on defense, only giving up more than three goals one time the entire season to the eventual 4A champion Woodinville Falcons. So any opportunities the Lions got, they needed to cash in.

But out of halftime, Mercer Island held possession and eventually got the game’s first goal at the 45-minute mark from Henry Newcomer.

The Lions searched for an answer but to no avail. However senior winger Morris Isaac was trying to will his team to a goal. The first-year student from Tanzania, who speaks almost exclusively Swahili, was fantastic when his side needed a jolt.

“He really steps up for us and does whatever we need him to do. I honestly think with his speed he would be insane up top, but we have utilized him in the back,” West said.

An additional goal for Mercer Island was the final nail in the coffin as the Islanders took a 2-0 lead in stoppage time.

The Lions bounced right back in the third-place game and finished with the highest placing that a Lion team has ever had on the soccer field, boys or girls.

Auburn Mountainview took on Ingraham, which lost to Shorewood in their semifinal game. The Lions scored a playoff high seven goals, in a 7-1 win over the Rams. Across all five-state tournaments this season, no team scored seven goals in a game besides the Lions. In the 2A tournament last year, Sehome beat Tumwater 8-0 in the opening round and went on to win the 2A championship.

Praneet Singh in disbelief after losing to Mercer Island. Ben Ray / The Reporter

Benjamin Yitbarek chases down the ball at Sparks Stadium against the Islanders. Ben Ray / The Reporter

Jenish Thapa battles for the ball against Mercer Island. Ben Ray / The Reporter