The North Kitsap soccer squad completed the season sweep against Bainbridge with a 3-1 victory at home Oct. 5.
“The girls executed our plan,” Viking coach Travis Rider said. “It was great to have different tactics and mentality and still get a goal difference of two.”
The Vikings switched up their formation from three in the back and a box midfield to four back and three midfielders split wide. Since the Vikings adapted, the Spartans struggled to find a rhythm throughout the game. Viking Syleena Hogan found herself around the net multiple times.
She fired the first two shots of the game, the first being a header saved by a Bainbridge defender and the second bouncing off the crossbar. Spartan Riley Becker finally gave Bainbridge an offensive opportunity with a shot rolling to NK goalie Campbell Weible.
Afterward, Evelyn Beers and Hogan began to create a connection upfront. “It was beautiful to see them play off each other,” Rider said. “They understand how they move so they can think as one.”
Beers curved the corner kick into the box halfway through the first half, and Hogan headed it into the back of the net. With 10 minutes remaining, Hogan returned the favor with an assist to Beers’ goal to make it 2-0 at halftime.
The Spartans tried to respond early in the second half when Laine Romney nearly intercepted an NK pass back to the goalie. However, Weible was able to clear the ball seconds before Romney’s foot made contact.
Spartans Riley Butler and Becker forced Weible to make a couple of diving saves. Once Weible hopped onto her feet, she blasted the ball downfield to Beers, who assisted Hogan’s breakaway to earn the third goal.
Bainbridge responded with eight minutes remaining when Avery Pujolar scored. The Spartans had a few more chances in the final minutes but North Kitsap held strong. “I am loving it but it is one game at a time,” Rider said about North Kitsap’s winning streak. “We have to keep our focus and understand people are gunning for us.”