Boys Soccer: Puyallup completes comeback win in Stoppage time

4/4/2024

Puyallup 3, Curtis 2

(Puyallup, WA) The 2 of the 4 top teams in the SPSL 4A Soccer standings faced off for the first time in 2024. The two familiar opponents are no stranger to each other with Vikings vs Vikings. Curtis was the visitor in their 1st head-to-head match-up and came in tied with Bellarmine at 4-0 in league play.

The hosts Puyallup, who took 2nd at state last year losing the Championship match to Skyline in a 2-0 match comes in a point behind Bethel. Bethel has 5 matches in standing at 3-1-1 and Puyallup was 3-1-0. The re-match will be Monday, April 29 at Curtis.

In Thursday night’s game it was Curtis who came out swinging. Puyallup was aggressive initially but Curtis quickly turned the tables and pressured Puyallup’s backline and keeper Alexis Cruz-Hernandez. In the 14th minute Andrew George took advantage of an itnitial good defensive play when the ball came right back to him off a blocked shot and powered it into the back of the net to give Curtis a 1-0 lead.

It looked like that would be the score heading into the break as the teams reached stoppage time in the 1st half. Puyallup had picked up their attack in the final 10 minutes and it paid off when a foul was called on Curtis just outside the top of the box. Zack Robertson lined up the free kick and sailed in perfectly to even the match and they went to halftime tied 1-1.

The 2nd half played out much like the first with Curtis coming out strong offensively and just 4 minutes in Aidan Kennard popped in the go ahead goal and they re-took the lead 2-1. Puyallup would slowly amp up their offensive attack and in the 66th minute a collision in the box led to a Puyallup PK. Liam Stoner lined it up and knocked it past Curtis frosh keeper Tanner Coleman who got the call because regular keeper senior Jose Zuniga wasn’t available.

Puyallup then re-played the 1st half with the game winning goal in stoppage time as frosh Curran Caufield found a seem and connected wiht the game winner handing Curtis their 1st loss of the season. In fact they were also the 1st team to score a goal on Curtis this season.

Puyallup improved to 6-2 overall while Curtis is now 5-1. The two teams will face off again on April 29th at Curtis. Taking our Thorbeckes MVP was Puyallup’s Zack Robertson. Our NW Home Team of BHG Realty, Summit Lending and Country Financial Insurance went to the game winner and Curran Caufield.