Shootout studs: Central Kitsap boys soccer secures district title
Central Kitsap's boys soccer team continues to master the art of winning the close game.
For the third time this postseason, the Class 3A South Sound Conference champion Cougars found themselves playing past 80 minutes of regulation against a quality opponent. And for the third time, Central Kitsap (15-1-2) prevailed, winning the West Central/Southwest Bi-District tournament title with a 1-0 shootout victory over Pierce County League champion Silas.
Eduardo Ramos Martinez, Keegan Bailey, Porter Herbig, Nicholas Strickland and Joshua Voce converted for CK and goalkeeper Carson LeBeau saved Silas' first attempt during the shootout, providing the Cougars with the 5-4 advantage.
"They've just been brave mentally," Central Kitsap head coach Patrick Leonard said of his Cougars, who entered the game No. 2 in the state's 3A Rating Percentage Index rankings, one spot ahead of Silas.
Heading into the shootout, Leonard said his players had the look he wanted to see.
"They are smiling," Leonard said. "They know they are going to win."
Central Kitsap, which began district play with a 3-2 overtime win against Timberline and a 2-1 shootout win against Gig Harbor, extended its unbeaten streak to 17 games and improved to 7-0 this spring in games decided by one goal or by shootout. The Cougars will learn their seed in state tournament play on Saturday as committees meet to determine brackets.
Bainbridge's boys soccer team will join Central Kitsap in the 3A state tournament after winning its fourth district playoff game in the span of eight days Thursday, scoring the final three goals of the game to prevail 5-2 against Timberline. Bainbridge's first three playoff games were all the loser-out variety.
"Glad the boys can get some rest," Bainbridge head coach Drew Keller said.
The Spartans, who finished second to North Kitsap in the Olympic League during the regular season, are ranked No. 4 among 3A teams in RPI.
In the 2A West Central/SeaKing Bi-District tournament, No. 1 seed North Kitsap saw its season-long 16-game win streak snapped, dropping a 1-0 shootout loss against No. 4 Fife in Poulsbo. The Vikings, who had already secured a state berth, play No. 3 Foster on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Franklin Pierce High School to determine third place.
No. 7 Bremerton saw its season end with a 3-2 district loss to No. 10 Sammamish. The host Knights finished the year with a 9-8 record.
In the 1A West Central District title game, Klahowya fell 5-0 against Nisqually League foe Vashon Island. The Eagles (13-4-2) already clinched a berth in the state playoffs with a shootout win over Cascade Christian on Wednesday.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Central Kitsap boys soccer wins district title in shootout
