The offense continued to click for the Kentridge High boys soccer team Tuesday night.
Behind goals from Michael Haas, Robbie Schuck and Sam Piehler, the Chargers turned back Kentlake 3-1 in a South Puget Sound League North Division game at French Field.
The loss eliminated the Falcons (7-6-2, 23 points) from playoff contention.
And though Kentridge already had a playoff berth in hand before the game began, the win proved pivotal. Because with the win, the Chargers (10-2-3, 33 points) avoided the possibility of having to play a loser-out, winner-to-district game next week.
“We felt the subtle relief that we avoided the fourth-place game,” said Kentridge coach Glenn Walrond. “It was a good win. We wanted to avoid (that scenario).”
Instead of facing the danger of a loser-out game, the Chargers get to face Jefferson (10-2-3, 33 points) on Friday afternoon in a game that will decide the SPSL North champion.
However, as the season has gone in the SPSL, the scenario remained somewhat muddled as of Thursday afternoon. Because while Kentridge and Jefferson clearly were the frontrunners for the league title heading into play Friday, Tahoma (10-4-1, 31 points) remained alive for the crown as well.
Entering the week, Auburn Riverside also had a shot at the league title. Auburn Riverside forged a 1-1 tie with Kentwood on Tuesday night, sealing a playoff berth. If Auburn Riverside beat Kentlake on Friday and Tahoma loses to Federal Way, the Ravens would nab the North’s No. 3 seed to the playoffs.
“It’s really weird,” Walrond said. “Every year it comes down to two or three teams.”
And the scenario never seems to be cut and dry, either. The winner of the Thomas Jefferson-Kentridge game will win the SPSL North crown outright. Kentridge hasn’t won a league title since 2003. However, if Jefferson and Kentridge tie and Tahoma beats Federal Way, the Bears would take the title despite the fact that all three teams would finish with 34 points. If that scenario plays out, Kentridge then would snag the SPSL North’s No. 2 seed to the postseason while Jefferson would take the third seed.
“The league is more balanced (this year),” Walrond said. “In terms of the North, there isn’t a clearly dominant team.”
On Tuesday, however, Kentridge proved to be dominant enough to get past Kentlake.
Kentlake took control early, getting a goal from Roberto Morales in the seventh minute.
Kentridge’s Haas evened up the game 1-1 in the 18th minute, then Schuck put the Chargers ahead for good in the 36th minute. Kentridge’s Sean Dunn cleared a corner kick to Schuck, who delivered from six-yards out. It was Schuck’s first goal of the season.
Kentridge’s Piehler then iced the game in the 77th minute on an assist from Paul Bascole. It was Piehler’s sixth goal of the season and third during a two-game span.
The win over Kentlake was Kentridge’s third in a row. During that run, the Chargers have outscored their opponents 15-2.
“It was a good win,” Walrond said. “Our goal before the season was to play for a championship.”
And the Chargers accomplished just that.
• ALSO: Kentwood’s Chad Fuller broke a 0-0 tie with Auburn Riverside in the 69th minute on Monday only to see the Ravens score six minutes later in a game that finished 1-1. … Kent-Meridian hung with Tahoma on Monday, but wasn’t able to put the ball in the net, falling 1-0. The loss dropped the Royals to 0-14-1 for the season.
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