Goodwin’s hat trick leads Spartans to blowout win in districts

By Luke Caputo • May 14, 2025 1:30 am

The Bainbridge Spartans boys soccer team opened postseason play with a dominant 12-0 home win over league foe Sequim in its opening district game May 13, which included a hat trick from junior midfielder Dana Goodwin.

The No. 1 seed Spartans will now play No. 4 seed Franklin Pierce in the district semifinals May 15 at Harry E. Lang Stadium in Lakewood. The winner secures a state bid and a chance to play for a district championship May 17, while the loser will play an elimination match with the winner going to state, also May 17.

“In order to get to a championship, you want to go through a champion,” Spartan coach Mark Nowak said.

Bainbridge previously beat Sequim twice in the regular season in comfortable fashion and didn’t allow a goal in either match.

Spartan sophomore defenseman Howard Howlett jump-started the Bainbridge offense quickly, scoring the first goal of the game at the 37-minute mark in the first half. Howlett scored another one not even five minutes later, allowing Bainbridge to jump out to a 3-0 lead with 30 minutes remaining in the half.

Spartan senior midfielder Abe O’Connell managed to put in two goals toward the end of the half off assists from junior forward Cruz Piland, giving the Spartans their first goals since the first ten minutes of the match. Piland also scored a goal, giving the Spartans a 7-0 lead at halftime.

“I don’t think we have a weakness,” Howlett said. “We’re on top of it.”

Bainbridge freshman defenseman Orion LaBarre managed to get a shot in the back of the net at the 27-minute mark, but was ruled offside. Nonetheless, Piland put a goal in not even five minutes later, giving the Spartans the first score for either squad in the second half.

The Spartan offense began to awaken again with Goodwin putting in a goal at the 19-minute mark, increasing their lead to double digits at 10-0. Goodwin later earned a hat trick after scoring another goal three minutes later.

“You want to keep that competitive edge when you’re competing and training,” Nowak said. “It allows you to go through the Olympic League and keep that level high, too.”