Tacoma Stars Reserves 8, Oly-Pen Force 5
The Tacoma Stars Reserves started slow, but a three goal third quarter lifted them to their 10th win of the season and clinched the #1 seed heading into the playoffs. Amos Freiheit and Isidro Prado-Huerta led the way for the Stars with three goals apiece.
The Stars opened the scoring early in the first quarter on Freiheit’s first strike but went quiet after that. Goals by Jonathan Mendoza and Gil Narvarro in the second quarter gave the Force a 2-1 lead after the first 30 minutes of play.
After the break, AJ Nitzel tied the game just 20 seconds into the third and then Prado-Huerta gave Tacoma a 3-2 lead at the 12:46 mark. Marcus Machado made it 4-2 after three. Freiheit and Prado-Huerta each scored twice in the fourth quarter and Tacoma held on to a 8-5 win despite late Force goals by Alex Hernandez, Jaisen Zurfluh and Michael Nation.
Tacoma (10-0-1) goals: Amos Freiheit (3), Isidro Prado-Huerta (3), AJ Nitzel, Marcus Machado
Snohomish (0-10-1) goals: Jonathan Mendoza, Gil Navarro, Alex Hernandez, Jaisen Zurfluh, Michael Nation
Everett City 5, Snohomish County 4
In the battle for Snohomish County, Johan Espinoza scored a last minute goal to give Everett City a dramatic 5-4 win over Snohomish County. The win kept Everett alive for the #2 spot in the WISL playoffs. They are just two points behind Oly Town with just one game remaining.
Neither team got on the board in the first quarter but Cristiano Whitaker broke the deadlock with a pair of goals late in the second quarter to give Everett a 2-0 lead. But Devin Shull answered with a minute left in the half and the two teams went to the break with Everett up 2-1.
The two teams traded goals early in the third quarter but Whitaker’s third put Everett up 4-2 going into the fourth quarter. But goals by Tyler Hopp and Marcus Swanson made it 4-4 with just 3:05 left. Facing the prospect of going on the road for the playoffs, Espinoza scored the game winner with just 53 seconds left and Everett improved to 8-3 in their first season with one more game to play.
Everett City (8-3) goals: Cristiano Whitaker (3), Kyle Witzel, Johan Espinoza
Snohomish County (3-7-1) goals: Devin Shull, Jared McInnes, Tyler Hopp, Marcus Swanson
Bellingham United 9, Portland Blacktails 1
Bellingham United clinched a playoff spot thanks to a 9-1 win over the Portland Blacktails on Saturday in Bellingham. Ale Tomasi and Jordan Voigt each scored twice in the victory.
The Hammers took it to the Blacktails right away with a by Tomasi and two goals by Voigt in the first quarter and never looked back. They added one more in the second to take a 4-0 lead at the half and then built a 9-0 lead before the Blacktails got on the board with 9:04 left and took home the 9-1 victory.
Bellingham improved to 5-5-1 this season and are locked into the #4 seed. They will travel to Tacoma to face the Stars Reserves in the semifinals in two weeks. Portland wrapped up their tumultuous season at 2-10.
Bellingham (5-5-1) goals: Ale Tomasi (2) Jordan Voigt (2), Ivan Colin, Spencer Wolfe, Danny Fazio, Richard Henderson, Mason Rudolph
Portland (2-10) goals: Adrian Rubio
Western Indoor Soccer League 