TACOMA STARS’ DEREK JOHNSON NABS SECOND WISL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
What a year it has been for Derek Johnson.
He was in the starting line-up back in late April when the South Sound FC Shock made their debut in the Evergreen Premier League. He spent a few months in Sweden with IFK Stockaryd/Rörviks IF. He returned and made the squad for Seattle Impact FC of the Major Arena Soccer League. He was one of 22 players to resign from that squad due to operational and moral issues. Now he’s landed back with the Tacoma Stars who are helping launch the Western Indoor Soccer League. Johnson was with the PASL Tacoma Stars as a teenager.
So, how to commemorate the year? How about back-to-back WISL Player of the Week honors for the 22-year-old? That is just what has happened after Johnson scored 5 goals in Wenatchee on Dec. 13 and backed that performance up with 4 more goals on Dec. 20th as Tacoma hosted the Arlington Aviators.
“Derek wants to take soccer to the highest level he can,” says Darren Sawatzky, who as head coach of the Tacoma Stars and the Sounders U23 of the PDL has been around Derek for quite some time. “He had some opportunities this past summer and fall to take his game to the next level and you are seeing that experience in his game here with the Stars.”
The Tacoma v. Arlington match was one where the visiting Aviators thought it was best to defend first. This challenged the Stars to be both patient and creative. “Derek took advantage of a team sitting in from the start,” says Sawatzky. “Every opening is a chance to shoot when teams defend near their goal and Derek was clinical in his execution.”
Johnson put the Stars up with a blast from the left side in the first quarter. He kept on scoring a bit later when he found a loose ball, this time to the right of the Arlington goal, and he smashed it past Arlington goalkeeper Erik Cruz. Johnson’s third goal was a measure in effort and determination. Again he intercepted a loose Arlington pass at the top of the penalty box. This time he worked right and the ball bounced up, catching between his legs. Johnson hopped, brought the ball along, and then made a deft touch to himself before firing back across the goal and into the net. Johnson’s fourth goal wasn’t as climactic. It came on a dribbler tapped in from the left post near the wall.
Johnson now leads all WISL scorers with 11 goals. He’s played just three league matches for the Stars.
Some might see Johnson’s “El Tigre” (The Tiger) flair and goal celebration roll as cocky, but that really isn’t his nature. He’s got big smiles for all of his fellow Stars’ successes.
“Derek is a hard-working, young player for the Stars but he has experience at this level,” Sawatzky concludes. “Derek knows what it takes to score goals indoors and he is an incredible team-mate willing to do the work for others while accumulating stats.”
Story by David Falk, http://www.GoalWa.net
LOGGER WOMEN REMAIN UNDEFEATED AND MOVING UP IN RANKINGS
The Puget Sound women's basketball team won its ninth consecutive game with a 71-63 home victory over Cal Lutheran on Saturday, Dec. 20. The Loggers (9-0) are off to the program's best start since the 2004-05 campaign when Puget Sound opened the season 10-0.
With the victory, the Loggers moved up to 23rd in the NCAA Div. III Coach’s Poll rankings.
Four Loggers scored in double figures, including 17 points from both Amanda Forshay and Katy Ainslie. Emily Sheldon added 15 points and seven rebounds, and Alexis Noren chipped in with 13 points.
Puget Sound established the fast-pace tempo early as Forshay and Sheldon netted consecutive fast-break layups in the first minute of play, forcing the Regals (3-4) to call a timeout. Both sides challenged each other often with full-court pressure, but the Loggers' resiliency allowed Puget Sound to hold a lead for the entire game.
Cal Lutheran kept pace with the Loggers in the early going as the Regals were down by just one, 9-8, less than five minutes into the game. However, Hannah Lekson's 3-pointer gave the Loggers 12-8 cushion. The Regals once again pulled to within one point at 16-15, but a pair of free-throws by Sheldon followed by a jumper from Ainslie gave the Loggers a five-point lead.
Puget Sound held a 35-30 advantage at halftime.
The Loggers opened the second half with a 9-0 run that was capped off by a 3-pointer from Sheldon with 16:07 on the clock. Puget Sound held a double-digit lead for the rest of the second half, until the Regals made a run in the final two minutes.
The Loggers connected on a season-high 17 free-throws on 20 attempts (85 percent), and they were more conservative from the perimeter by attempting a season-low 10 3-pointers.
Puget Sound opens the 2015 calendar with a tall task when it plays its first Northwest Conference game of the season at 11th-ranked George Fox on Jan. 3 and then return home to host Willamette on Jan. 9 and Pacific on Jan. 10.
LOGGER MEN ECLIPSE THE CENTURY MARK AND KEEP WINNING SEASON GOING
Four Loggers scored at least 15 points as the Puget Sound men's basketball team crushed Northwest Indian, 103-64, on Friday, Dec. 19.
The Loggers (5-3) eclipsed the 100-point mark in regulation for the first time since Dec. 29, 2008 when they defeated Simpson, 118-88.
Keith Shattuck led the Loggers in scoring with 19 points while going perfect from the floor, 7-for-7, and from the line, 2-for-2. Nick Holden completed his second double-double of the season in the win. He scored 15 points going 7-for-10 from the floor and had 10 rebounds. Erin Barber also scored 19 points in the game and had a team-leading four assists. Ben Bates went 8-for-11 for 16 points.
Puget Sound shot 64.5 percent from the field in the first half and ended the game shooting 58.9 percent. 12 different Loggers scored points against Northwest Indian (0-8).
Puget Sound led the game for 37 minutes and enjoyed its biggest lead of 42 at the end of the game. The Loggers bested the Eagles in rebounds (49-21), steals (11-8) and assists (19-7). Puget Sound took advantage of 17 Eagle turnovers that resulted in 27 points.
The Loggers open their conference schedule at George Fox on Jan. 3 and then return home to host Willamette on Jan. 9 and Pacific on Jan. 10.