MUKILTEO — In a showdown of two evenly matched teams, Kamiak and Marysville Pilchuck were both looking for an opportunity to score the game’s first and possibly only goal.
That opportunity never arose as the defenses for both teams stood tall in a 0-0 non-conference boys soccer outcome Tuesday night at Kamiak High School.
The Knights and Tomahawks each had chances to find the net, but they were mostly low-percentage tries. Still, for an early-season game it was a good test for both squads, and both coaches were generally pleased.
It was Kamiak’s season opener, “and think we kind of played as expected for the first game,” said Knights coach Kosta Pitharoulis. “We were a little rusty and (the players) have to get used to each other. … (We have) a bunch of guys coming from a bunch of different teams, so getting them to play together is really important.”
Marysville Pilchuck was playing its second game — the Tomahawks opened their season on Saturday, drawing with Stanwood 1-1 — “and I thought this was a good game,” said coach Paul Bartley. “Kamiak is always a good squad, so this was a good test for us. … We transition well and our defense played great. We’ve got some things to work on, but it looked pretty good.
“I don’t really have any downside,” Bartley added, “except we didn’t score.”
Kamiak may have had the game’s best scoring chance late in the first half when Frankie Lozano came loose on a breakaway up the left side. But Marysville Pilchuck goalie Kole Bradley-Kuk cut down the angle and deflected the shot, and a trailing Kamiak player was not quite in the right spot to knock in the rebound.
The Knights had some other chances early in the second half, but could not quite find the goal. And Marysville Pilchuck also had some tries that were no better than close.
The Tomahawks reached the Class 3A state playoffs a year ago, losing in the first round to eventual state champion Lakeside, 1-0. Nine players from that team are back this year, mostly on the defensive end of the field, which is why “our defense is miles ahead of where we were last year,” Bartley said. “But now we need to find somebody that can put the ball in the net. That’s going to be (a key).”
Still, he added, “I’m excited about the potential. … We move the ball around really well. Tactically we need to work on finishing, but this is a good group of kids. There’s a big upside.”
Kamiak, meanwhile, won the 4A Wesco South last season, and Pitharoulis sees the makings “of a very solid team. A bunch of the guys are very capable players and as soon as we get the familiarity down, who knows how far we can go.”
At Kamiak H.S.
Goals—none. Assists—none. Goalkeepers—Marysville Pilchuck: Kole Bradley-Kuk. Kamiak: Tristan Bratvold. Records—Marysville Pilchuck 0-0-2. Kamiak 0-0-1.
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