After taking a 1-0 loss in the opening round of the district tournament, the Kent-Meridian Royals boys soccer team bounced back to beat the Federal Way Eagles 2-1 to advance to the third round of the district tournament on May 13.
This was the third time these two sides met up this season with Kent-Meridian winning the first meeting 4-1 and the two sides drawing level 1-1 in the second meeting. The players and manager Brian Gabert know anything can happen in the playoffs.
“It’s about kids under pressure, what can you do? My defense held up nicely,” Gabert said.
The adage that teams should be playing their best soccer as the year comes to an end was not applicable to this Royal side. Since April 18, the Royals have won just two games and had a record of 2-3-2 in their previous seven games. But there was no better time to get going than against a familiar opponent.
Kent-Meridian’s first goal of the evening came from a likely source, senior midfielder Keilor Garcia. The tall lanky left footer took a touch just outside the 18-yard box and blasted a shot that ripped the nylon of the Federal Way goal in just the 10th minute.
“It was all about getting the ball to wide channels and letting our wingers do their thing,” Gabert said.
With the thought that their season could end if they come up short, the goal from Garcia put the Royals’ minds at ease, and for goalkeeper Joey Villanueva, he saw his side play with the confidence they had all season.
“As soon as Keilor hit that I knew it was over. He was saying in Spanish ‘La sa vere,’ which means ‘you will see,’ and he proved it,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva wasn’t called on much in the first half, but when he was called, he made some immaculate saves. His best work came in the second half as Federal Way players’ eyes shot to the sky as if to ask how Villanueva covered that much ground.
“My keeper, freakin ‘A’. That was the best game I have ever seen from him, just save after save. That was amazing,” Gabert said.
Kent-Meridian went to the locker room up 1-0, and used the short respite to score a second goal early in the second half. Royal defender June Perez sent a cross into the penalty box, and after a Federal Way defender put the ball at the feet of Anthony Diaz, the Royals went up 2-0 in the 44th minute.
“It’s so fun to watch. We have so many great individual players. They play beautiful football,” Villanueva said.
The rest of the game left Kent-Meridian wanting more. The Royals put shots on target and had countless opportunities, but couldn’t capitalize. Villanueva came through with big saves as well and looked like he would tally a clean sheet in the playoffs. But a goal that was trying to be cleared and bounced off a Federal Way player put the Eagles on the scoreboard in stoppage time.
Outside of the lone goal against the rhythm of play, Victor Morales, the Royal center back, played extremely well, locking down the defensive side of the field for the Royals.
“He’s just super solid, probably one of the newcomers of the year. He just came out of nowhere and totally contributed. He comes out and does his best every single game,” Gabert said.
Kent-Meridian now takes on Auburn Mountainview with a trip to the state tournament on the line. It is the third time these sides have played, and Kent-Meridian has an 0-1-1 record this season against them.
“I’m very excited. I think we can compete with anybody. It comes down to moments in the game and who can take advantage of it and I think we can do that,” Gabert said.
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Christian Gomez San Juan controls the ball moving upfield for Kent-Meridian. Ben Ray / The Reporter
