Davyan Martinez Sends Kent-Meridian to Main State Draw for 1st Time Since '81

5/20/2025

KENT, WA

Davyan Martinez went top left shelf in penalty kicks to send Kent Meridian to the 2nd round of the State Tournament after a 2-1 win over Ballard. Kent-Meridian moves on to face Mercer Island Friday night at 7 p.m. on the island.

Johan Zuluaga scored for Kent-Meridian 10 minutes into regulation while Theo Court countered in the 20th minute for Ballard to cap regulation scoring.

The game was a rematch of a game from the same play-in round two years ago won by the 14th seed Ballard 5-0. The Beavers would go on to play in the state championship that season. Ballard the following year as the 15th seed advanced to the state semifinals eventually finishing 3rd. This year, the Beavers crawled into the postseason as the 19th seed, yet their ability to go on another deep postseason run was not distant from the minds of any at French Field Tuesday night. The Royals of Kent-Meridian came into the tournament as the 14th seed after clinching a berth into the state tournament through the District 3 consolation bracket including a win over NPSL Champion Auburn Mountainview. Kent-Meridian sought to advance past the play in round of the state tournament for the first time in 44 seasons.

Kent-Meridian dominated possession in the early stages and they were rewarded. Off a Royal corner, Johan Zuluaga put Kent-Meridian up 1-0 in the 10th minute. Ballard countered ten minutes later off a header from Theo Court in the 20th minute. After 40 minutes of play, the two side went into the half deadlocked at one goal apiece.

The second half saw no goals between the two sides, with overtime necessary to decide a winner.

A turning point came in overtime, when Kent-Meridian was awarded a penalty kick. Keilor Garcia for Kent-Meridian had his PK stopped by Ballard keeper Hadden Muench. After no scoring through the overtime period, penalty kicks would decide a winner.

In the shootout Kent-Meridian keeper Joey Villanueva saved the first PK he saw, and Kent-Meridian did not miss a single shot. Davyan Martinez scored the game winning PK to send KM to the main draw of the state tournament for the first time since 1981.

Our Thorbeckes MVP of the match was Davyan Martinez with the game winning PK.

Kent-Meridian plays at the #3 seed of the tournament Mercer Island with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday night.

To catch the full game broadcast Click Here (Subscription Required).

Here is our interviews with the stars of Kent-Meridian including full penalty shootout and highlights of the game.

ESN Interviews Kent-Meridian’s Davyan Martinez and Joey Villanueva