Things are coming together for the Kentwood High boys soccer team.
Stuck in a race for one of the four playoff berths from the South Puget Sound League North Division, the Conquerors picked up a critical win Tuesday night at French Field, knocking off first-place Kentridge 1-0.
It was Kentwood’s third-straight win, and a sweet one at that as it avenged an earlier-season loss for the Conks. A game in which Kentwood squandered two leads.
“It was a great win. It was nice to take the lead and hold it this time against them,” said Kentwood coach Aaron Radford, pointing to the loss against the Chargers on March 24.
The Conquerors (6-3-1 in league play with 19 points) also kept alive their five-game unbeaten streak.
Eli Peterson provided all the offense needed, netting an unassisted goal in the 33rd minute. The shot, roughly 20 yards out, was just out of the reach of Kentridge goalkeeper Alex Ferguson.
Goalkeeper Rodney Greiling collected the shutout, his sixth of the season and third in a row.
Greiling saved his best for last, too, diving to his right to deflect a Kentridge free kick with just seconds remaining in the game. The shot tipped off Greiling’s hands and then the crossbar as time expired.
“Thankfully Rodney is about 6-2 and has a huge wingspan,” Radford said.
The win coupled with Jefferson’s 3-1 loss to Tahoma helped the Conquerors move to within two points of the Raiders in the SPSL North standings, but they remain in a tie for fourth place with the Bears and Kentlake.
The loss snapped Kentridge’s eight-game unbeaten streak. During the run, the Chargers had won six games and tied two others.
“Kentwood needed the game and played like it,” said Kentridge coach Glenn Walrond. “Kentwood worked very hard and did what they needed to do to take us out of our comfort zone.”
• ALSO: The Landram brothers — Drew and Daniel — delivered for the Falcons. Daniel scored unassisted in the 50th minute and Drew added Kentlake’s second goal in the 67th minute, leading the Falcons past Auburn on Tuesday, 2-1. With the win, the Falcons improved to 6-4-1 with 19 points and entered play on Friday in a three-way tie for fourth place in the SPSL North. … Fermin Samario scored on an assist from Nanda Aye in the 57th minute, helping Kent-Meridian (0-10-1, 1 point) forge a 1-1 tie with Federal Way (1-7-3, 6 points). It was Samario’s second goal of the season.
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