10/18/2024

Puyallup 2, Curtis 1
Olympia 0, Emerald Ridge 0
Sumner 12, Spanaway Lake 0
Rogers 4, Bonney Lake 0
Yelm 2, South Kitsap 2

It was a big night of soccer in the SPSL 4A last night with several important matches. ESN was at 2 of those matches and our game coverage is below beginning with the Curtis at Puyallup match and followed by the Emerald Ridge at Olympia tussle. You’ll find our game stories, postgame shows and video highlights plus the full league standings. 

Vikings in Blue visit the Vikings in purple

(Puyallup, WA) When it’s Vikings vs Vikings you know 3 things. It’s going to be physical, it’s going to be fast and it’s going to be close. Anyone expecting thosxe 3 things to conintue were not disappointed. It was a defensive tug-o-war for 56 minutes and looked like this match may not yield a single goal when Puyallup struck and went up 1-0. Curtis would not back down and answered in the 69th. 

As both teams pummeled each other with attacks and counters, Puyallup’s Ella Bach who scored the 1st goal on a perfect shot found another slight crease in the stingy Curtis defense in the 75th minute and Puyallup took a 2-1 lead and needed to only hold off Curtis for another 5 minutes or so.

That in itself would prove to be quite the task as Curtis lined up 3 corner kicks and multiple throw-ins and free kicks with most of the final time being played right in front of the Puyallup goal. The Vikings in purple and gold though held the line and denied each one of those attacks for a fantastic finish and just a great soccer match to witness.

The Scoring Flurry

Let’s go back to the 1st goal. In the 57th minute Ella Bach ran down a long pass down the right sideline and after a slight touch to get around the defender with her right foot she plants and finished with a sweet left footed shot all in one fluid motion. Check out the video below.

Curtis then found the answer, Olivia Lorella took a total of 10 corners in this match for the Vikings. It was in the 69th minute that she found Soph Mayne free at the top of the 18 yard box. Mayne let loose a shot the went off the crossbar and off the back of Puyallup keeper Olivia Weidner to even the score at 1-1. 

Bach would then blast home the game winner in the 75th minute. A clearance from the Curtis back line didn’t go as far as expected and Leila Mooring was able to corral it along the sideline. Mooring lobbed a pass into the 18 finding Ella Bach for the finishing touch and the 2-1 final score.

Standings and what’s next?

With the win Puyallup is now 7-1-0 in league play and 8-3-2 overall. Puyallup has 3 league matches left to play traveling to Yelm next week and then hosting Spanaway Lake. On the 29th it’s a huge showdown with crosstown rivalry Rogers and by then there could be quite a bit on the line.

For Curtis the loss stung, handing them their 1st loss of the season. They are now 5-1-2 in league play and 9-1-2 overall. Curtis will look to run the table with 3 matches left against Graham-Kapowsin, Bethel and they finish with Yelm.

The Eli Sports Network dot com MVP

There were many to choose from but Ella Bach with 2 unbelievable perfect shots was just something that could not be overlooked. 

Link to watch the full game replay on the NFHS Network (subscription required)

ESN Post Game Show

Video Highlights

Puyallup Strikes first

Curtis with the equlaizer

The Game Winner

______________________________________________________________

Bears and Jags duel to a scoreless draw

(Olympia, WA) All four Olympia seniors got the start but it was Emerald Ridge starting off on the front as the aggressors. Hadiah Reid set the tone offensively for Emerald Ridge while Mady Rothe led the defensive efforts. Madison Gibson had a few opportunities off of corners but Olympia’s back line put together a strong effort to deny every Emerald Ridge opportunity.

Jags Defense bends, does not break

From there on, Olympia dominated time of possession and had the edge in both quality and quantity in terms of opportunities. Mike Meconi was all over the attacking third for Olympia while Brooke Juergens and Avery Draper put together some strong looks on the far side. Isabella Ramos-Kuehl was too good for Emerald Ridge however. The junior keeper ended up with 11 saves in the match. Olympia outshot Emerald Ridge 23-2 but not a single one of those shots crossed the line as the match ended in a 0-0 draw.

Current record and what’s next?

The Olympia Bears are now 4-3-1 in league play and 7-5-1 for the season. The Bears will finish the regular season beginning with a match next Tuesday at Bonney Lake then a showdown with Sumner and will finish at South Kitsap.

The Jags are now 2-4-2 in SPSL play and 2-7-3 overall. They will host Bethel next Tuesday and then finish with Bonney Lake and at Sumner.

The Eli Sports Network dot Com MVP

Being a draw wee have to go with a player for each team as our MVP’s. For the visiting Emerald Ridge Jaguars we went with Isabella Ramos-Kuehl. For the home team Bears our selection was Abby Carter.

Link to full game replay on the NFHS Network (subscription required)

ESN Postgame Show

Video Highlights

Emerald Ridge keeps things scoreless thanks to their junior keeper

The Bears defense keeps the ball out of the back of the net

	WIAA	League			Overall
Team Name	CL	W	L	T	W	L	T
Sumner	4A	7	0	1	9	2	2
Rogers (Puyallup)	4A	7	0	1	8	4	1
Puyallup	4A	7	1	0	8	3	2
Curtis	4A	5	1	2	9	1	2
Olympia	4A	4	3	1	7	5	1
Bonney Lake	4A	3	4	0	4	5	2
Emerald Ridge	4A	2	4	2	2	7	3
South Kitsap	4A	2	5	2	4	6	3
Graham Kapowsin	4A	1	4	1	2	5	1
Yelm	4A	1	6	1	5	6	1
Bethel	4A	1	6	1	1	9	1
Spanaway Lake	4A	1	7	0	2	8	0

www.elisportsnetwork.com