Consecutive overtime wins lead Skyline soccer to district finals
The Skyline boys soccer team advanced to the district finals on Wednesday afternoon through a winning goal in the first half of overtime against Mount Si. That thrilling victory came after another second half overtime winner against Issaquah on the previous Saturday.
In the semifinals against Mount Si on May 13, the advantage to Skyline was clear. The Wildcats (9-4-2) had the seventh seed while Skyline went in as the third seed team (11-3-0). However, Mount Si had previously beaten the Spartans by a fine margin of 1-0.
Junior forward Daanish Syed secured the win against Mount Si with a minute left in the first half of overtime. Set pieces played a role in the game, as Syed’s winner resulted from a right-sided corner. The ball was originally headed away, but clearance was not strong enough and the ball landed at Syed’s feet. He shot the ball through a crowd of defenders.
A great dribble by senior forward Pratham Pulletikurti assisted junior defender Max Grenham, who slotted the ball under the Mount Si goalkeeper for Skyline’s first goal of the night.
The Spartans were the favorites as well against the Issaquah Eagles (10-5-1) at sixth seed in May 9. Skyline had also beaten Issaquah two weeks prior with a score of 4-1.
Freshman midfielder Bennett Grenham scored the winner against Issaquah with a minute left in the second half of overtime.
Set pieces again played an important role in Skyline’s 3-2 victory. All three goals from Skyline resulted from a set play, with one from a free kick and two from corners. Grenham’s goal came from a right-sided corner, which was whipped to the back post perfectly and met the head of Grenham, sending the ball past a defender into the top-left corner.
Skyline’s second goal, scored by junior midfielder Cy Khalili, came in an almost identical manner, where the ball was crossed in from a right sided corner. The Spartans’ opener was from a free kick crossed in from the left side of the pitch by captain Austin Shepherd and headed in by junior forward Cruz Rivera.
Skyline will play Lincoln in the district championship at Skyline High School on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.
