4A Boys Soccer District 3/4 Semifinals; Curtis & Sumner advance to Dist Championship

District 3/4 4A Soccer Semifinals at Federal Way’s Memorial Field saw two games unfold with a spot in the district title game hanging in the balance.

Thanks to victories from the past weekend all four teams had assured themselves a spot in the state tournament.

SPSL Champion Puyallup clashed with Curtis at 5:00 and Sumner faced NPSL Champion Mt. Rainier at 7:00 pm.

Here is our coverage of both games.

Game 1

Curtis 2 Puyallup 1

The two SPSL rivals clashed for the third time this season, with Puyallup winning the previous two thanks to go ahead stoppage time goals in both games.

Puyallup broke the ice in the 20th minute off a set piece that saw Roby Hooper find Coleman Farmer off a header to give Puyallup a 1-0 lead.

It seemed as if the SPSL Champions were on their way to handing Curtis a third straight defeat. But Curtis had other intentions. Israel Wambiru equalized the game on a brilliant strike to tie the match at 1-1. And that is where the game stood at half.

The second half saw Curtis take their first lead in the 48th minute when Andrew George scored the go-ahead goal to put Curtis in front.

Unfortunately for Puyallup minutes later, Zach Robertson already playing with a yellow card was disciplined again with a red card, forcing Puyallup to play with 10 men the rest of the match.

Curtis defensively played to their strength of strong back end play to hold Puyallup scoreless the rest of the way.

Curtis will play Sumner in the District Championship Game Thursday night at 7:30 at Auburn Memorial Stadium.

Puyallup will wait for Sunday to find out their first opponent in their pursuit of return to the State Championship game.

Video Highlights

Farmer’s header puts Puyallup in front

Wamburi strike ties the game

Andrew George put Curtis in front for good

Curtis to the title game

ESN Postgame Show

Game 2
Sumner 5 Mt. Rainier 0

Game 2 saw Sumner face NPSL Champion Mt. Rainier to see who would face Curtis in the District title game.

In the 11th minute, Casen Fiorito found the back of the net on a brilliant header to give Sumner the opening goal of the game.

Gabriel Chicas Pineda kept Mt. Rainier within striking range with an incredible point blank save in the 27th minute.

Sumner’s aggressive offensive style broke the Ram dam when Zack Rygol scored Sumner’s second header goal to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead. Sumner took the two-goal lead into halftime.

The second half started with Sumner setting the tone with a goal from Ty Brunner to give Sumner a three-goal stranglehold. Casen Fiorito eliminated any doubt with a fourth goal for Sumner in the 65th minute, and Abraham Sotelo tacked the final goal for Sumner in stoppage time.

Sumner won the match 5-0 and they advance to the District Championship Thursday night at Auburn Memorial Stadium to face Curtis at 7:30.

In the two previous meetings between Sumner and Curtis, Sumner won both meetings (3-1, 1-0)

Mt. Rainier drops to 11-3-1 on the season and will await the release of the State playoffs schedule on Sunday to see who they will face in the first round of the state tournament.

Video Highlights

Fiorito’s header puts Sumner in front