Jefferson girls’ soccer coach Wade Webber had a pretty good idea Tuesday’s match against Kentlake would be a low-scoring affair.
“We had seen them play against Kentridge … and it made some things come into a little clearer focus in regards to their formations,” he said. “They look a lot like us. They are difficult to score on and play good defensive ball.”
Such was the case on Tuesday, when the Raiders couldn’t do much, but did just enough to get past the Falcons en route to a 1-0 win at French Field in Kent.
It took the Raiders (3-3-3 with 12 points) just eight minutes to find the chink in Kentlake’s defensive armor as Lauren Jerde set up Lindsey Dahl for the game’s lone goal.
It was Kentlake’s fifth straight game without a win. During that span, the Falcons (2-4-3, 9 points) have lost three games and tied two others.
Jefferson goalkeeper Liz Fitch earned the shutout.
“It’s a 1-0 win and we’ll take the three points,” Webber said. “But you have to give credit to them (Kentlake). They pushed extra players forward in the second half and were playing four forwards. It was a little nervy at the end. We never felt like it was our game until the very end.”
It was the perfect beginning to the second half of the season, Webber conceded.
“The focus on the second games of the season is that you have to do better than the first,” he said.
ALSO: Goalkeepers Krystal Daniels and Natalie Spadafora helped Kentridge (3-3-3, 12 points) blank Auburn (2-6-1, 7 points) 2-0 on Tuesday. Kentridge’s Dana Johnson and Emily Hanna provided the Chargers with all the offense they would need, scoring in the 53rd and 79th-minutes respectively. … Kentwood (9-0-0, 27 points ) started off the second half of the season much like it finished the first: With a shutout. Chelsi Pennington and Kiana Kraft each collected a goal as the Conquerors held off Federal Way (3-5-1, 10 points), 2-0. Courtney Johnson and Megan Walburn combined in goal for the shutout, their ninth straight. … Lisa Farhner led Auburn Riverside’s offensive outburst on Tuesday, netting a pair of goals in a 7-0 win over Kent-Meridian (0-9-0, 0 points. The second-place Ravens improved to 6-1-2 with 20 points. Shannon Keith, Megan Amis, Lauren Johnson, Stephanie Horibe and Nellie Parker also tallied goals for the Ravens. Taylor Abrass and Gina Cardenas combined for the shutout. … Auburn Mountainview (2-2-0 in league, 6-3-1 overall) fell to Enumclaw (3-1-0, 6-2-0) in SPSL 3A action this past Tuesday in Enumclaw.
VOLLEYBALL: AR back to form; The Auburn Riverside volleyball team rebounded in fine fashion Wednesday night.
Coming off a disheartening loss to Kent-Meridian a week earlier, the Ravens responded with a sweep of Federal Way — 25-14, 25-12 and 25-15.
The key to the win proved to be the return of Brooke Bray, who had been out previously with a high-ankle sprain. Bray returned Wednesday night and paced the Ravens (2-1 in league, 3-3 overall) with 11 kills.
Bray, however, wasn’t alone as Candice Buchanan added 10 kills and Heidi Bell dished out a match-high 37 assists.
ALSO: Kent-Meridian (4-0) continued its surge on Wednesday, upending Auburn (0-3) in four games — 19-25, 25-11, 25-23 and 25-22. Charene O’Hara collected 10 kills and six blocks for the Royals while Davina Fuiava dished out 24 assists. Skyler Atkinson led the Trojans with 17 kills followed by Michelle Ernsdorff (12 kills). … Tahoma (1-3) finally broke into the win column in SPSL North play, cruising past Jefferson (0-4) in three games — 25-22, 25-13 and 25-22. Robyn Hwang and Maria Bahlenhorst tallied nine kills apiece for the Bears while senior setter Mackenzie Cles dished out 26 assists. Morgann Green led the way for the Raiders, pounding out a match-high 11 kills. … Kentlake’s three-game winning streak came to an end in a three-game sweep to Puyallup — 25-14, 25-20 and 25-18. Jennifer Barber paced the Falcons (3-0 in league, 6-2 overall) with 21 digs. … Jessie Genger pounded out 15 kills and Lauren Campbell added 14 more as Kentwood (4-0) made quick work of Kentridge on Tuesday, 25-19, 25-21 and 25-15. Ashley Nguyen led the Chargers (2-1) with 14 kills. … Megan McBride and Tara Patton combined for 27 kills, leading Auburn Mountainview (2-1) past Enumclaw in an SPSL 3A match — 22-25, 25-14, 25-7 and 25-21.
BOYS, GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY: Auburn Riverside’s Julian-Blake Cowan continued his torrid pace on Wednesday, clocking a meet-best 13 minute, 24 second run against Federal Way and Kentwood. Cowan was coming off a second-place finish at the prestigious Sunfair Invitational in Yakima. Teammate Kenny Krotzer wasn’t far behind, taking second in 13:55 followed by Kentwood duo Tim Pettit (14:06) and Kevin Massimino (14:15). …Kent-Meridian’s Derrick Daigre and D.J. Jigre posted a 1-2 finish at Game Farm Park against Auburn and Kentridge, breaking the tape in 16:27 and 16:33 respectively. … On the girls’ side, Auburn Riverside’s Kalee Cypra (16:42), Rachel Atwood (16:46) and Kelsey Loomans (16:52) led a 1-2-3 Raven finish against Kentwood and Federal Way. Kailey Ulland paced Kentwood, clocking in at 17:02.
BOYS TENNIS: The Auburn Trojans fell 5-0 to the undefeated Kentridge Chargers this past Wednesday. … Kentlake slipped by Tahoma, 3-2, in SPSL North action on Wednesday. The Falcons got wins in No. 1 and No. 2 singles with Trenton Jocz and Kyle Thomas coming out on top. The No. 1 doubles team of Taylor Welch and Jordan Amoth also won. ALSO: Kentwood defeated Federal Way, 3-2. Tucker Siegert (playing No. 1 singles while Max Manthou competes in doubles) picked up a win as did Manthou and partner Chris Rumer along with No. 3 doubles tandem Justin Rodjanapanyakul and Adrian Tabquin.
