by Marty Zier
Sports contributor
The Viking boys’ soccer team fought a path to the state finals during a tumultuous week of games, resulting in a ticket to the state quarter finals.
The Vikings’ journey had an ominous start with a 3-2 loss to Life Christian Academy from Tacoma on Oct. 30. Despite the loss, Orcas advanced to play Puget Sound Adventist Academy from Kirkland in a sudden death match rebounding with a win. Coach Terry Turner said his guys won when it counted.
“It was a thrilling last minute win over Puget Sound Adventist to earn a spot in the State 1B/2B Playoffs,” he said. “We did it the hard way this week, scoring in the last 17 seconds of the match forcing Puget Sound to a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation. Orcas won on penalty kicks after overtime in a win or go home playoff game. I credit the win in large part to the stellar goal keeping of Kupono Anuenue who stopped the first kick. He read the deception absolutely correctly and stopped a really well taken shot by one of their top players.”
The Vikings then advanced on the playoff bracket to play Co-NW A/B League Champions Providence Classical Christian and lost 5-4 at Sammamish High School on Nov. 4.
Turner said knew it would be a close game.
“As the top teams get more experience against each other, all the defenses have been tightening up and it’s gets harder and harder to score,” he said. “As predicted the game was exciting, almost an even duel with both teams getting opportunities and having to do some goal mouth defending. We ended regulation in a 0-0 tie and went to sudden death overtime and penalty kicks. After six shots with the lead going back and forth, Providence won 5-4 and the opportunity to face the loser of the Mt. Vernon Christian and Crosspoint game on the other side of the bracket.”
The Vikings will play the Mount Vernon Christian Hurricanes on Friday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. in the Washington State 1B/2B Quarter Finals.
“Based on the results of all the games so far, all the remaining teams are very evenly matched and from here on out, it’s up to us to rise to the occasion and bring to bear all of the training, preparation and spirit to get the result we’ve worked so hard all year for,” said Turner.
