The Seattle Christian boys soccer team continues to ride close to the top of the heap, having run its record to 8-2-1 in the 1A Emerald City Conference after destroying Bellevue Christian, 4-1, on the nice Valley Ridge turf field offset from the Tyee High School campus Thursday.
Coach Kevin Gunhus talked to the boys after this win that has them sitting second in their league with a big game looming, if not for league finish, but for morale and confidence as the state playoffs draw near – against Overlake Christian.
“That was a very good 80 minutes, a great effort all around,” said Gunhus, in his third year coaching Warriors soccer. “You played well together.”
The passing was exquisite much of the game, now labeling their competition in this one good may be an understatment because BCS is 1-8 this season, far back of the pack and with no chance of the playoffs with only three games left for the season.
But the Warriors...Now that’s an entirely different story. After a first season loss to Tacoma Baptist, who is undefeated in the Sea-Tac League in the other conference, and then a little later on a mid-season loss to Overlake Christian, this Warriors’ team has been mounting up mostly wins. Six wins and one tie since the 5-2 loss to Overlake Sept. 29.
“We are going to play with the best next Tuesday (Overlake Christian) so we have to be the best we can be,” said Gunhus.
If the players play like they did against BCS, passing the ball one-touch, two touch, going circles around BCS making them often look like chickens with their heads cut off, it will be a fine showing against the likely league champ, Overlake Christian.
The Warriors scored the game’s first goal just eight minutes into play on a big long boot from freshman midfielder Austin Baucom from 25 yards out on the right side. Then, BCS got one in to tense things up at the 18th minute of the first half before the Warriors scored just before halftime to go in a little more at ease.
Making it 2-0 was Joey Gratchek. He made a shot from 20 some yards out, like Baucom.
“Similar goals,” said Gunhus of the nice triangular passing at the corner area of the 18-yard box that had a couple Bellevue Christian defenders running around after the ball before Siedenburg sent a square ball to the foot of Gratchek, who booted a looper over the outstretched hands of the Vikings keeper.
Halftime came and went and there was more good passing all over the field from the likes of stopper Cory Kuta, a sophomore. And Baucom was good bringing the ball up and passing off to outside wings and midfielders.
