`Lucky' Highline Survives Tahoma For Shootout Win

BURIEN - Despite being outshot and outplayed by the Tahoma Bears, the Highline Pirates pulled out a 1-0 shootout victory last night in the first round of the Class AA boys soccer tournament at Highline Stadium.

Highline (13-0-2) advances to the state quarterfinals against Olympia (13-3-2), with the weekend date and site still to be determined. Olympia ousted Metro League champion Seattle Prep 2-0 last night.

"It was lucky," said Highline Coach Tim Crawley. "They definitely beat us on the field. We'd been on an upswing our last four games. Tonight, I was hoping we could take it into penalty kicks. I've very confident in our first five guys."

To say nothing of his goalie, Johann Noetzel, who stopped all three Tahoma penalty kicks to clinch the win for Highline.

"I watch lots of soccer on television," said Noetzel, a junior. "That's all I do at home. I learn to keep my composure. I was very confident tonight. A little birdie told me how they shoot."

According to Crawley, the bird did its talking during Tahoma's penalty-kick victory over Gig Harbor on Saturday in a Pierce County League's winner-to-state playoff game.

"We scouted them on Saturday," Crawley said. "Their shooters did exactly the same thing then as they did tonight."

Yet, the Pirates needed a bit of fortune to reach the penalty-kick round after 80 minutes of regulation play and two five-minute overtime periods.

Tahoma not only outshot Highline 15-10, but narrowly missed scoring twice. The first occurred when a bullet by Pierce County League co-MVP George Czarnowski was blocked by Highline defender Chris Blanchard at the goal line.

Tahoma's second occurred with 17 minutes left in regulation. A shot by Greg Skistimas hit the bar and bounced on the goal line. The official ruled it didn't cross the line.

"That's the story of our season," said outgoing Tahoma Coach Warren Jones. "We're getting all the opportunities. We're creating all the opportunities. We're just not putting it in."

Other playoff games

Mount Vernon 3, Lindbergh 0 - Jared Bryant, Chris Herzberg and Andy Huemmer scored the goals, and goalkeeper Matt Yeoman recorded his 11th shutout of the season as the Bulldogs ousted Lindbergh in the first round of the Class AA state playoffs at Stanwood High School.

Lindbergh, the No. 2 entry from the Seamount League, ended 9-5-2.

Mount Vernon (16-1), which won first Northwest League championship this year, advances to the quarterfinals against Monroe (14-1-2) - tentatively set for Friday night at Mariner High's Goddard Stadium.

Monroe, the Western AA Conference champion, ousted Roosevelt 2-0 last night.

Mount Vernon led 2-0 at halftime on goals by Bryant and Herzberg. Yeoman stopped penalty kick by Brian Torres midway through the second half. Huemmer scored with five minutes left.

Blanchet 3, Peninsula 2 - Pat Moran scored twice, including the controversial game-winner with a minute left. Robin Mervin scored the other goal for the Braves (11-5-4). Peninsula's Tim Lawson, a University of Washington soccer signee with 24 goals this season, was held scoreless.