SEATTLE – Last season’s Division II State Champions - Seattle Academy, started right where they left off, absolutely dominating on both sides of the ball, trouncing Ballard 12-1 at Lower Woodland Park #7 Tuesday night.

The Cardinals went to work early, putting two in the back of the net in the first couple minutes of the game. Senior Charlie Phelps got things started, with a quick dodge and finish from X, followed by a well-executed feed and dump from Captain, Parker Woo to put Seattle Academy up 2-0. The Cardinals would go on to bury 4 more in the first, including another beautiful finish from Parker Woo to send the teams into the second quarter at a 6-0 score.

The second quarter wasn’t much different than the first, with midfielder Tommy Hadac finishing with an absolute lazer to the top of the cage off a left-to-right split to add to the Cardinals lead. Ballard goalies, Hunter Garcia and Bryan Walker stood poised in cage all game, but it was the shot opportunities from Seattle Academy, like the two crease finishes from attackman Charlie Phelps late in the second, that overwhelmed the Beavers’ defense. Heading into halftime, the Cardinals had the commanding 9-0 lead.

Things calmed down in the 3rd, with the Beaver’s defense settling into place and slowing the Cardinal’s opportunities. Senior captain Riley Johnson buried the only goal of the quarter, with a rip off a left-to-right split dodge from top. The Ballard offense looked to cutters all-night for feeds, but it was the well-timed checks of the Seattle Academy poles, like that of All-Conference senior, Zeke Robinson, that made this task a difficult one all night, leaving Ballard scoreless throughout the third.

Both teams traded goals late in the fourth, including a door-step finish from Ballard sophomore attackman, Kai Chamberlain to put the Beavers on the board.

In the end, Seattle Academy’s precise ball movement, and skillful play of their poles were too much for the Beavs’, sending them to a 12-1 victory.

The Cardinals (1-1) hosts Bainbridge (2-0) on March 21st, while Ballard (0-1) heads to Sehome-Bellingham (0-1).