Arlington soccer falls to Monroe 3-1

Arlington gave up two goals in about one minute during the second half to lose to Monroe 3-1 in a Wesco Conference matchup March 18.

“We just had one minute of lapsed judgment,” Arlington boys soccer coach Kieran Raney said. Monroe’s goals came with about 16:30 and 15:30 remaining in the game.

The loss was the second time the Eagles lost a close one to Monroe. In 2021 the Bearcats scored a goal in the first 45 seconds to secure a 1-0 victory.

“It pushed us that we can be a good team,” Raney said of last year’s loss. The Eagles finished the pandemic-shortened season in 2021 with a record of 8-1-1, which Raney said was the best record in school history.

Monroe got on the board with about 16:40 remaining in the first half. Near the end of the half, senior Cameron Mooring tied it on a penalty kick.

“It was a good game and we showed well,” Raney said. “I loved the fight and desire we showed.”

He said Monroe is a team that will contend for the district title and the March 18 game was going to be a battle of the top teams in the conference.

The team’s goal going in was to stay organized and stay composed against Monroe, Raney said.

He complimented the efforts of senior Emmanuel Escalante, who Raney said is one of the best players in the Wesco Conference. “I’m sure he’ll be a leading contender for player of the year.”

Raney also said sophomore Bjorn Gudgeon played “lights out.”

Arlington started the season with two wins before the loss to Monroe. The Eagles defeated Lynden 2-0 on March 12 and then topped Cascade 4-3 on March 16.

The Eagles are returning six of 11 starters and have a senior and junior heavy team.

“I would say this is one of the best teams Arlington ever had,” Raney said of the current squad. The goal this year is to reach the state tournament for the second time in school history.

Up next for Arlington is traveling to Shoreline Stadium on March 25 to face Shorecrest beginning at 7 p.m. and then hosting Lynnwood High School on March 29 at 7:30 p.m.