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Stepping into History

Cook, Hyde score as Pumas take down Bush 2-1 for state championship
Senior defender Jack DiGiuseppe and sophomore midfielder Jack Hyde hold up the trophy in the parking lot of Federal Way Memorial Field.
Senior defender Jack DiGiuseppe and sophomore midfielder Jack Hyde hold up the trophy in the parking lot of Federal Way Memorial Field.
Photo: Graham Thomson

After a long, dominant season where the Pumas boys soccer team went undefeated and won the Emerald Sound Conference Championship, UPrep prepared to leave their mark on school history. The state championship was their first since 2005.

After a 3-0 win against King’s Way Christian in the state semifinal, the Pumas were set to play Bush for the state championship at Federal Way Memorial Field on May 31st. 

“We had a great game on Friday. Our defense was on point and we got a great performance from both keepers,” coach Nate Whitney said. 

The Pumas opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a goal by senior defender Gavin Davis.

“I didn’t really see any big errors that had to be corrected before the championship game,” Whitney said. “It was a really solid performance.”

Senior midfielder Roan Leslie added two more in the 70th and 75th minutes, and the Pumas punched their ticket to the state final with a 3-0 win. 

The Pumas played Bush earlier this year to decide first place in their conference, and won 1-0 in extra time, thanks to a goal by senior midfielder Kaiden Lo-Birdsall with a minute left.

“We knew Bush was gonna be a really tough opponent,” Whitney said. “These boys have conquered challenges all year, and they did it again today.”

The Pumas opened the game with a goal from junior defender Max Cook in the sixth minute.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better start,” Whitney said. “We were on top of the world.”

The deluge of rain soon let up, and UPrep added on another in the 19th minute, courtesy of sophomore midfielder Jack Hyde.

“When that one went in, I felt like the game was on ice,” sophomore forward Tom Tooth said. 

The desperation started to creep through for the Blazers. They set into a press defense, and made two substitutions before the 20 minute mark. It didn’t take long for them to find the net, and Bush was back in it at 2-1 in the 26th minute. 

“That one put us all on edge,” Whitney said. 

Junior goalkeeper Auggie Reed then rebounded and saved a Bush breakaway on the next possession, followed by a diving save in the 38th minute that kept the score at 2-1 going into halftime. 

“We just had to finish the job. We had 40 more minutes to play,” Whitney said.

Whitney received the Emerald Sound Conference Coach of the Year Award this year, leading the team to a 16-0-2 record, first place in the league, and a league championship.

“I see it more as an award for the whole coaching staff,” Whitney said. “I couldn’t do what I do without the rest of them.”

The Pumas continued to apply pressure in the second half. 

“I felt really good about the whole situation,” Tooth said.

A UPrep goal was called offside in the 73rd minute. 

With time ticking down, the Blazers attempted multiple shots from long range, all of which were saved by senior goalkeeper Nick Cox-Hultquist.

“I was never worried,” ninth grade midfielder/forward Zinedine Smith said. “I trusted him the whole way.”

The pivotal moment came in stoppage time, when Bush earned a free kick five yards outside the box. 

“Our hearts were in our throats,” Whitney said. “Those last ten minutes were terrible for my blood pressure.”

The Blazers launched the ball at the top left corner of the goal, and Cox-Hultquist made the leaping save, tipping the ball over the crossbar to seal the state championship for the Pumas. 

“That save was ridiculous,” Smith said. “I never had any doubt that he was gonna get there. You come to expect that kind of thing from a goalie of that caliber.”

Cox-Hultquist finished the day with 10 saves, seven of which came in the final nine minutes. 

“I couldn’t be happier about this season,” Tooth said. “I feel like we really earned this.”

Despite the success, the younger players still look ahead to next season.

“We’re gonna have to find a new identity,” Smith said. “We have really high expectations for ourselves for next year. We just have to trust the process.”



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