The Mount Si High School boys’ soccer team faced their toughest test of the Kingco schedule thus far on Monday, March 24, when they faced preseason league favorite Sammamish.

The Totems are known for speed and stellar ball-control play, and showed it on Monday. But the Wildcats’ defense stood tall, as Mount Si escaped with a point after their fourth straight overtime game, a contest which ended in a 0-0 tie.

“Tonight was a pivotal game,” said Mount Si coach Darren Brown. “It kind of shows us where we’re going and I like it.”

“We’re 2-0-3, still haven’t lost a game,” Brown said. “We’re getting points against teams where we need to get them. If we take care of the teams that we need to, we’ll still be sitting pretty.”

Mount Si had their share of opportunities, but it was Sammamish who controlled the game, as they got off more shots on goal and corner kicks. The Totems had a total of 10 corner kicks at both the end of regulation and overtime. If either had gone in, Sammamish would have won the game.

“It was pretty intense, fast-paced, and we got a draw,” said freshman Eric Baumgardner, whose older brother, senior Adam, is one of the key offensive threats on the Wildcats this season.

Adam Baumgardner is thrilled to play with his brother this season.

“I was actually pretty excited when I found out he made varsity, because I get a year to play with my brother,” Adam Baumgardner said. Eric agreed: “I like it; it’s fun,” he said.

Mount Si traveled to Interlake Friday, March 28, rallying for another win, this time in regulation. Adam Baumgardner took a feed from Doug Silvius and rammed it home in the 65th minute to give the Wildcats a 2-1 victory over the Saints.

Interlake opened the scoring with a goal in the 38th minute by sophomore midfielder Andy Fordyce. The Saints took their 1-0 lead into halftime, but in the second half, things changed. Around the 56th minute, Mount Si defender Ben Joselyn scored the tying goal, with the help of an Interlake defender, who deflected Joselyn’s shot into the net. Following that was the previously mentioned goal by Adam Baumgardner, and the Wildcats held on from there.

Mount Si is now around the midpoint of the schedule; they close it out with another big home test against perennial favorite Newport, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 3.