When it comes to Auburn Mountainview soccer, one name has been synonymous with the program since its beginning four years ago.
From the school’s opening day in 2005 to today, Cary Davidson has helmed both the girls and boys soccer teams. In that time he’s tasted success, leading the girls to a state appearance in 2006 as well as two academic championships in 2007 and 2008.
Success for both squads in the same year, however, had eluded him … until this season. This year both the boys and girls team found success, with the Lady Lions earning a trip to the district meet after finishing third in the South Puget Sound League 3A division with a 5-3-0 record. The team finished the season 12-5-1 overall.
“We had a great season in the fall, we just didn’t get past Union,” he said. “But our season was terrific as far as the way we played.”
After a rough start in league play that found the team dropping its first two league games to Sumner and Enumclaw, the Lions responded by winning the next five league matches.
“They had to perform, and they won five in a row,” Davidson said. “So that stretch of wins was great, because we played some teams that could have been pretty tough. But they handled it and got us in a playoff position. They handled the pressure really well.”
Eventually the team would move on to the district tourney where Union overpowered it 4-0.
For the boys, the 2009 season was a breakthrough year that saw them finish second in the SPSL 3A with a 5-2-1 record and earn a berth in the 3A state tournament.
“I think it was certainly the seniors this year,” Davidson said. “As a group they improved quite a bit over the last year. Their level of play was much higher, and they played like they wanted to do something special this year. That was huge.”
Davidson said the team’s style of play also factored into its success.
“We finally figured out the right way to play with these guys,” he said. “It’s very similar to what we do with the girls. We play zone (defense), four in the back. We attack out of the back. It’s team defending and attacking, so you’re not relying on individual defending. I think it makes a huge difference.”
Davidson, who teaches visual arts at the high school and is also a member of the Auburn Arts Commission, said the highlight of his season with the boys team was the Highline game.
“There were lots of highlights, you could say the White River and Bonney Lake games, they were huge,” he said. “But the Highline game topped them all because of what the win did for us, got us to the state tournament, and how we won with a last-second goal to tie it and a goal in overtime. That was exciting stuff.”
Because of the success of this year’s teams, Davidson said he feels the program is finally ready to throw off the notion that it is still in the growing stage.
“I think I did (feel like a new program) until this year,” Davidson said. “I felt like we were establishing for three years. But both teams played so well this year that I feel that we’re established. With both programs now there is a sense that we are a playoff program. This is where we are, this is where we expect to be every year. I think the kids are there and have that mentality now.”
“We’ve (Auburn Mountainview) struggled in sports in the spring a little bit,” he said. “But we did pretty well this season. I think that across the board for most sports there is a feeling that we’re not new, we’re not a new school anymore, we can compete with anyone.”
