Soccer: Potential Chaotic finish in SPSL 4A Soccer fizzles out; Puyallup easily clinches Title and Top Seed

5/1/2024

As the regular season of the 4A SPSL soccer season came to an end there were still many possibilities for the top 4 finishes. Puyallup began the night in 1st place but could get caught and passed by Sumner who was in 2nd place. 3rd place were the Curtis Vikings who could move into 2nd and Bellarmine in 4th could have finished 3rd.

Instead the the shoulda’, coulda’ and woulda’s fell flat as they all finished where they began the night. Puyallup entered the week with big matches at Curtis and then home Wednesday night vs Bellarmine and if Puyallup won both no one could catch them and that’s exactly what they did with a dramatic come from behind win 2-1 over Curtis and then dominating Bellarmine in the finale 4-0.

Sumner and Curtis battled hard but the Spartans made their single goal in the 47th minute hold up to clinch 2nd place. Despite losing both matches this week Curtis held onto 3rd place and Bellarmine took 4th.

Olympia was the only team that had their future determined going into Wednesday night as the 5th place team. The top 8 advanced to the District 3/4 Tournament and needing to be sorted out was 6th, 7th and 8th place. Emerald Ridge and Olympia battled to a 0-0 tie and Bethel defeated Graham-Kapowsin so Bethel takes 6th, Emerald Ridge 7th and G-K 8th. Rogers beat South Kitsap 1-0 as both teams had their seasons come to an end.

The District Tournament begins Saturday with the top 8 seeds in double elimination and can win the Tournament. Seeds 9-16 will have to battle through the single elimination consolation bracket to reach the State Tournament. 7 of the 16 teams will get to State.

Saturday’s schedule:

Winners Bracket
#6 Tahoma at #3 Sumner 7:30pm
#7 Bellarmine at #2 Mt Rainier (Highline Stadium) 7pm
#5 Curtis at #4 Union Time TBD
#8 Kennedy Catholic at Puyallup 7pm

Consolation Bracket (loser out)
#14 Emerald Ridge at #11 Kentwood (French Field) 2pm
#15 Skyview at #10 Olympia 5pm
#13 Kentridge at Bethel (Art Crate Stadium) Time TBD
#16 Graham-Kapowsin at Camas 1pm

District Tournament Bracket

Below are our coverage of Wednesday night’s Puyallup/Bellarmine and Sumner/Curtis matches

Puyallup 4, Bellarmine 0

(Puyallup, WA) The last day of the regular season in SPSL 4A Soccer had the makings of what could be a wild evening. After Puyallup and Sumner each came away with last second victories Monday night, both teams had an opportunity to win the regular season title in the SPSL.

The Vikings of Puyallup wasted no time, Curran Caufield scored quickly, and Puyallup had their stranglehold of the SPSL crown. On a night where Puyallup commemorated their seniors, senior Liam Stoner set the Puyallup tone with a penalty kick goal in the twenty sixth minute to give the home side a 2-0 lead and the Vikings went into halftime maintaining the 2-0 lead.

Puyallup was in no mood to leave the door cracked open for a Bellarmine comeback in the 2nd half as Stoner and Caufield broke free and Stoner buried a shot in the 45th to take a 3-0 lead. Zack Robertson got his own breakaway to push the score to 4-0 and Luca Antongiovani slammed the door with a spectacular header in for the 5th and final goal of the match.

To watch the full game you can do so on the NFHS Network (subscription required) on this link:
https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/puyallup-high-school-puyallup-wa/gam282b4301f0

For more on this game check out our postgame show from the broadcast followed by video highlights.

ESN Postgame Show

Curran Caufield taps in a quick score

Liam Stoner with his 2nd goal of the match

Zack Roberston with a breakaway goal

Luca Antongiovani with an amazing header

Sumner 1, Curtis 0

(University Place, WA) Sumner came in looking for the win to give themselves a chance at winning the league title and taking the top seed into districts. Curtis needed a 3 goal win over the Spartans to overtake them for 2nd place but any win would clinch no worse than 3rd in the SPSL.

The 1st half was divided into sections with each team dominating time of possession and having multiple opportunities to put goals on the board. However, the defenses would dominate not only the 1st half but the entire match with one opening that Sumner took full advantage of in the 47th minute.

Sumner got a free kick just outside the box to the far side. Ty Brunner lofter a perfect lob into the box and Arya Alijani headed it perfectly into the net for the goal. This would also earn our NW Home Team Takin’ it to the House Play of the Game.

Both defenses were outstanding led by Spartans keeper Kyle Goodrow who was our Thorbeckes MVP. Vikings keeper Manny Zuniga punched out 16 saves and was also impressive.

For a full review of the match check out our postgame show below.

To watch the full game you can do so on the NFHS Network (subscription required) on this link:
https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/wiaa-district-iii-lakewood-wa/gam4c29df01c9

ESN Postgame Show