The Highline College Men’s soccer team clinched a victory on the road against South Puget Sound, with a final score of 6-2, keeping them on the top of their division in the NWAC. 

Last Friday’s match provided an intriguing perspective on the team’s performance. The game began with the first half showing the Highline team’s prowess. At the 4-minute mark, Reon Tezuka found the back of the net, assisted by Brady Anderson, giving Highline an early 1-0 lead.

The team didn’t stop there, with Shoo Shee, assisted by Anthony Naranjo, extending the lead to 2-0 at the 20-minute mark. Just three minutes later, Tezuka, this time assisted by Mason Abdella, made it 3-0 in favor of Highline.

In the second half, Tezuka continued to shine, scoring another goal of the game, assisted by Damoni McKenna-Greenawalt at the 48-minute mark. 

South Puget Sound managed to pull one back when Gabe Crawford, assisted by Joscha Schulte-Holtey, found the net at the 67-minute mark, making it 4-1. THe score got even closer when Joscha Schulte-Holtey converted a penalty at the 85-minute mark, closing the gap to 4-2.

Highline wasn’t done yet, with Emmanuel Mbula, assisted by Julian Rangel, scoring at the 88-minute mark, and Julian Rangel, assisted by Thomas Ferew, sealing the victory with a goal in the 90th minute, bringing the final score to 6-2 in favor of Highline.

Shots and saves were a crucial part of the game, with Highline taking 20 shots and securing three saves, while South Puget Sound managed six shots and seven saves.

Highline also dominated in corner kicks, securing eight compared to South Puget Sound’s two. The game was played with intensity, racking up a total of 12 fouls for Highline and five for South Puget Sound.

While speaking with midfielder Thomas Ferew (#27) after the game to gain some insights into the match, he expressed his satisfaction with the team’s overall performance, emphasizing solid defense and efficient attack.

Regarding South Puget Sound’s second goal, which came from a penalty, Thomas shared his perspective. He believed it was indeed a penalty, but he noted it was a relatively light foul and suggested the opposing player may have exaggerated the impact.

When asked about his familiarity with the Washington Premier Complex, Thomas mentioned that he had played there extensively during his time with Pac NW in club soccer. He acknowledged that the field was relatively narrow but expressed his appreciation for the overall quality of the pitch.

Thomas believes that the dimensions of the field can influence the team’s style of play. A narrower field, like the one at Washington Premier Complex, can impact the team’s approach, particularly in terms of building up and possession play. Thomas indicated a preference for playing at Starfire Stadium, a wider field that aligns better with Highline’s style of play.

Highline College Men’s soccer’s victory against South Puget Sound showcased their adaptability, setting a positive tone for their upcoming matches and finishing the regular west conference on top of their group.