A loss in the state championship game couldn’t erase the immense feeling of pride Mount Si Wildcats boys soccer head coach Darren Brown felt with regard to his team in his final game as head coach of the program.

Brown, who has coached the Wildcats boys soccer team for the past 17 seasons, was reflective on the journey just minutes following his team’s 2-1 loss to the Puyallup Vikings in the 4A state soccer championship game on May 25 at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup.

“You get to this point and we were talking about this before the game, where there has got to be a winner and there has got to be a loser. We wanted to give it our best and we did that,” Brown said.

Mount Si took a 1-0 lead on a Sully Sullivan goal in the 26th minute of play. Puyallup tied the game at 1-1 on a Andrew Irby goal (52nd minute). Puyallup scored the go-ahead goal when Logan Oyama scored on a direct free kick with just two minutes left in regulation. Oyama’s shot was a line drive into the upper right hand corner of the goal.

“We hit them in the mouth early (Sullivan’s goal in the 26th minute). Puyallup is a great team and they had a great season. I would like to play them again, though. We were close. It was an evenly matched game. They have some weapons,” Brown said of Puyallup.

Brown, who told his players prior to the start of the 2019 season that this would be his final ride as head coach, couldn’t had been prouder of his squad’s historic season. Brown will no longer coach the Wildcats boys soccer program because of his focus on his role as the Wildcats’ athletic director.

“I told them at the beginning of the year that this was it. Second place is the best we’ve ever finished and it’s something to build on going forward. I’m really proud of them. 17-3 is a heck of a record,” Brown said.

Mount Si senior Drew Harris was emotional following the final game of his high school career.

“I’m super proud of these guys. We became a family this season. I’m so thankful for them and all of our supporters in the valley,” Harris said.