It must have seemed like déjà vu all over again for Auburn Riverside soccer coach Robyn Saarenas.
Last season, the Ravens were knocked out of the postseason by Bellarmine Prep in overtime penalty kicks.
This season, the Lions of Bellarmine again grounded the Ravens, this time dominating the Auburn Riverside boys 4-0 in the West Central District playoffs at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma.
“Obviously, it was not our best moment on Saturday,” Saarenas said. “We haven’t had that bad of a game all season.”
Granted, the Ravens were two crucial players short with offensive threat Hansol Park off the team because of eligibility issues and defender Brice Erickson serving a one-game suspension for receiving two yellow cards in a 1-0 loss to Todd Beamer in the South Puget Sound League 4A tournament.
“I’m not sure which one had more of an impact,” Saarenas said.
Saarenas explained that Park, a South Korean transfer student, was declared ineligible after the Ravens’ May 4 match against Kentwood.
According to Saarenas, it was discovered that Park had graduated from high school in his native country, unbeknownst to her and Auburn Riverside administrators.
“When we found out, we had to sit him down,” she said. “He was heartbroken. He was definitely a good player for us, so I think not having him on the team hurt us.”
Park finished the season with six goals and two assists.
The Ravens also were hampered defensively against Bellarmine. The aggressiveness of Erickson, a SPSL 4A honorable-mention performer this season as a defender, was sorely missed.
“I was more heartbroken last year (from the season-ending loss) because we led most of that game, and then to lose with penalty kicks …,” Saarenas said. “This game wasn’t really close, so I can say they were the better team.”
The Ravens will lose 11 seniors to graduation, including all-SPSL North 4A second-team midfielders Adam Zeman and Cameron Howard. The Ravens also will lose all-SPSL second-team goalkeeper Tanner Fairweather.
However, Saarenas is optimistic that her team will be in the mix next season.
“Kevin Wien is a first-team all-SPSL defender. He’s fantastic and he’ll be the cornerstone of the team,” Saarenas said. “Goalkeeping should be solid also. We have two freshman goalkeepers coming back.”
The Ravens also return honorable mention Sean Norgard on defense.
“I would say we have a pretty good team,” she said. “We’ll be right there again.”
ALSO: The Auburn boys season also ended last Saturday with a 3-0 loss to Stadium. The Trojans finished the season third in the SPSL North 4A with an 8-4-4 league record, 8-6-4 overall. Auburn will lose seven seniors this year, including all-SPSL first-teamers Taylor Jackson and Joe Olenginski and second-team selection Pierre Chaplais. The team will return all-SPSL second-teamers Aaron McMahon, Riley Dewing and Selvin Bonilla and honorable-mention goalkeeper Juan Monroy.
