Print
E-Mail
tool name
closeTides advance to state
Gig Harbor soccer team earns 1-0 win over Kentridge Chargers
Marques Hunter
of the Gateway
SPANAWAY — They’re not the most dominant team. They don’t have the most on-ball talent, but the Gig Harbor boys soccer team found a way to get the job done.
After they lost to Stadium and South Kitsap during the Narrows League tournament, the Tides clinched a spot in the Class 4A state tourney by eliminating the Kentridge Chargers 1-0 on Saturday during West Central District III play at Bethel High School’s Art Crate Stadium.
Gig Harbor sophomore Robby Ubben scored the game-winning goal, sealing the Tides’ entry to the state tourney in the 65th minute. Ubben leads the team with 11 goals this season.
“It wasn’t the prettiest goal, but I’ll take anything,” Ubben said. “I’m so excited (about heading to state). Unbelievably excited.”
It was the first goal in three matches for the Tides. Gig Harbor’s defense also held strong, allowing just three shots on goal.
The Tides changed formation to begin the match. Senior Tyler Arrington’s job was to utilize his speed along the outside and set up a shot toward the middle of the field for his teammates.
“We were told to run down the line to create those lanes,” Arrington said. “So we just used our speed.
“We knew (Kentridge’s) defense was shaky when we pressured them. Sure enough, they made a mistake, and we capitalized on it.”
Arrington added that the feeling of going to state is awesome, because the Tides have been unlucky in the past couple of matches.
“It was nice to get one in the goal, finally,” he said. “Our defense has been doing a really good job, and it was nice to score at the end of it.”
Gig Harbor coach Todd Northstrom said the offensive strategy was simple: Start the ball wide, then turn to the middle, instead of the other way around.
“Overall, it was the intensity,” Northstrom said about the positive result. “We just left it out there.”
Gig Harbor had a few more offensive opportunities — the Tides took three more shots on goal than the Chargers — but neither team dominated.
“Anytime you can get to state, anything happens now,” Northstrom said. “If we can stay loose and play our game, we’ll be dangerous.”
Gig Harbor has struggled to score goals against quality opponents throughout the season. Senior Jordan Jacobson said they knew they had to get one when it counted the most.
“I think the difference was the intensity,” Jacobson said. “I think we wanted it a little more than they did.”
The Tides were scheduled to play the Marysville-Pilchuck Tomahawks (16-0-2 overall, 14-0-2 league) after press time on Tuesday. If they won, they would host the winner of the Rogers-Issaquah match at home on Saturday.
Who does GH play at the Class 4A state tourney?
The Gig Harbor Tides faced off against Marysville-Pilchuck in the first round of the Class 4A state soccer tournament after press time on Tuesday. If they won, they would host the winner of the Rogers-Issaquah match on Saturday in the state quarterfinals.
The first two rounds of the state tournament are loser-out.