Josh Twaddle’s hat trick leads Skyline to win over Bellevue
April 6, 2009
By Christopher Huber
Josh Twaddle, Skyline senior, controls the ball in the first half against Bellevue players. He scored once in the first half and twice in the second half for just the second hat trick in school history. By Christopher Hube
Skyline senior captain Josh Twaddle gave his teammates much of the credit after pulling off his first hat trick against Bellevue April 1.
The feat was only the second in the school’s history. In 2003, then-freshman Scott Parsons had a hat trick in the first half against Bellevue, according to coach Don Braman.
“It felt pretty good, but I think it was more of a team effort,” Twaddle said after the game. “If I had gotten a hat trick and we lost, it would have been way worse. I just think winning was the first thing for us.”
Despite sloshing around in the pouring rain, with the temperature hovering around 40 degrees, Twaddle scored three goals and lead the Spartans to a 6-2 win at Bellevue High School’s Memorial Stadium. Skyline improved to 2-2-0 in KingCo league play and 3-3-0 overall.“I told them in the locker room that we needed to keep the streak going, and we did,” he said. “So, we have a two-game winning streak right now.”
Skyline took a while in the first half to warm up. Bellevue (0-3-0 KingCo 3A, 1-5-0 overall) threatened a couple of times in the first 20 minutes.
But Twaddle led things off with a goal in the 13th minute on a penalty kick to the right side of the goal that easily got past a diving Bellevue goalkeeper.
It didn’t take long for the Spartans to build a lead. Less than three minutes later, senior midfielder Garrett Nordyke snuck the ball just inside the left post after a long throw-in. Mitchell Kim got the assist.
“It was nice to see some execution tonight, some quality goals tonight,” Braman said.
Skyline controlled the tempo all night with steady ball control and aggressive defense. The chilling rain seemed to inspire both teams to move quickly to stay warm.
The Spartans sealed the deal in the 20th minute, when junior midfielder Cole Clearman scored goal number three on a Braxton Griffin corner kick.
“Tonight, you saw what happens when forwards work hard and take advantage of the opportunities they helped create,” Braman said.
Bellevue scored its first goal of the night with just over six minutes to go in the first half. Skyline’s Michael Stoddard made it 4-1 in the second on a header off a corner kick in the right side of the goal.
“They’re a finesse team,” said Bellevue coach Dave Carter. “They like to move the ball around quickly — one touch, two touch.”
The Wolverines led off the second with a goal just under the block of Skyline goalkeeper Kenzie Stika.
Twaddle finished the night off with his final two goals in the 51st and 58th minute. The first came, with Griffin’s help, on a low liner into the right side of the net from 15 yards out. Sophomore Travis Strawn had the assist in the final Skyline goal.
Twaddle now leads the team with four goals on the season.
“The reason why we did so well is that we had possession on the ground,” Twaddle said. “It wasn’t just an individual effort. It was the whole team.”
Reach Reporter Christopher Huber at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.issaquahpress.com.
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