Quite a finishing kick

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

Fate, talent and planning came together in a spectacular conclusion Sunday for Zach Scott, a 1998 Maui High graduate, and his mother, Linda, of Haiku, Maui.

Linda Scott flew to Spokane in eastern Washington state to see her son play soccer at Gonzaga (Washington) for the first time in his final home matches. The trip was arranged by Zach's fiancee, Alana Cook (Maui '97), also a Gonzaga student, and was a complete surprise.

Zach had no clue until he saw his mother in the stands before Friday's game against University of San Diego.

On Sunday, pouring rain and biting cold tested Linda Scott, but did not dissuade her. She stayed in the stands and shivered. And Zach delivered.

Scott is a career defender who had scored two goals in four seasons at Gonzaga, including three years as a starter. On Sunday, against Loyola Marymount, he achieved a hat trick. Scott scored three goals, all on headers off indirect kicks.

It was only the fifth hat trick in Gonzaga history.

"I haven't had a hat trick since the under-7 league, when everyone scored hat tricks," Scott said.

He is always positioned in the box to try for headers on set plays, because he is so strong in the air, coach Einar Thorarinsson said. But almost always, Scott's best option is to re-direct the ball to a teammate.

On Sunday, "I got great balls from the offense. They put it exactly where it needed to be, and I was where I needed to be, too," Scott said. "It was totally amazing, Senior Day, my last home game, and my mom there."