It took a couple misses wide of the net and a few clanks off the goal post, but when the goals came, they came in bunches for Eastlake on Tuesday night.
In a span of 12 minutes, the Wolves netted three first-half goals on their way to a 4-0 victory over Issaquah.
“We’re playing better, we’re starting off stronger earlier,” said senior forward Sean Klauer, who is third in the KingCo 4A in combined goals and assists. “When we score early we do well in games.”
Klauer put Eastlake on the board first in the 25th minute, booting in a loose ball in front of the net for his 10th goal of the season.
Sophomore Madison Heck hammered in a near identical goal in the 32nd minute, scoring after a scrum in front of the net.
The Wolves weren’t done there.
With three minutes remaining in the first half, Klauer pushed the ball up the right sideline. He sent a perfect low cross into the center of the box, finding a diving James Gee, who blasted a powerful header past Eagles’ goalkeeper Evan King.
The score gave the Wolves a 3-0 halftime lead.
Issaquah, which has come back from similar deficits already this season, came out more aggressive in the second half, getting off a pair of shots in the opening minutes.
“We’ve been down 3-0 before against a team not quite as good as Eastlake and won 4-3, so we said we can win it, and we gave it an effort,” Issaquah head coach Jason Lichtenberger said. “But, you just can’t dig that kind of hole against a team like Eastlake.”
The Wolves, who out-shot the Eagles 14-8, tacked on another score in the 52nd minute when Klauer placed a perfect cross to the foot of Sam Langston. The ball landed right at the foot of the sophomore, who blasted it mid-air to the back of the net.
Senior goalkeeper Zack Wile recorded his first shutout of the season, nabbing four saves.
The victory moved Eastlake to 5-1-1 in league and 6-3-2 overall. The Wolves are currently tied with Garfield atop the KingCo 4A standings with 16 points.
“It was a good win on any given night, especially against a team that’s right up there in Issaquah,” Eastlake head coach Adam Gervis said.
The Eagles fell to 4-2-1 in league, dropping into a tie for fourth place with Newport.
“We wanted to control our destiny, but we’re going to ask (Eastlake) for a little help along the way now,” Lichtenberger said.
Both teams have a week off before returning to league play next Tuesday. Issaquah faces Bothell on the road, while Eastlake will travel up the hill to face Skyline in a battle for first place.
Skyline downs pesky Ballard
Skyline kept its record flawless Tuesday night, earning a 3-1 home victory over Ballard.
The Spartans struck first when Michael Stoddard knocked in a score in the 6th minute off an assist from Cole Calabro.
Ballard knotted the game in the 47th minute on Brent Campbell’s unassisted goal.
Skyline grabbed the lead back for good in the 54th minute when Jason Twaddle scored via a pass from Evan Kamber. The Spartans tacked an insurance goal on in the 73rd minute on Travis Strawn’s score.
Skyline improved to 5-0-1 in league and 8-0-2 overall. They are currently a half game behind Eastlake and Garfield for first place. The Spartans will have a chance to move into sole possession of first on Friday when they face Bothell on the road.
Blanchet blanks Eastside Catholic
Eastside Catholic struggled with its offense Tuesday afternoon, falling 2-0 to Blanchet.
The Braves scored in the 34th minute on Ryan Deem’s unassisted goal. They added another score in the 78th minute when Ben Flanagan found Colum McKannay for a score.
Eastside Catholic dropped to 1-5-1 in the Metro League and 2-7-1 overall with the loss.
