Highline College’s men’s soccer team is headed to the NWAC Final Four after defeating Peninsula College 2-0 in a hard-fought quarterfinal matchup Saturday, Nov. 7, at Starfire Sports Stadium in Tukwila.

The Thunderbirds wasted little time taking control of the scoreboard, scoring just over seven minutes into the match. Landon Lee found the back of the net at the 7:16 mark off an assist from Axel Alarcon, giving Highline an early 1-0 advantage.

Peninsula, which finished second in the North Region, fought to even the score, but Highline goalkeeper Kyle Goodrow held strong. Goodrow made a key save on a shot by Peninsula’s Ryuki Takahashi in the 38th minute, helping the Thunderbirds maintain their lead heading into halftime.

The first half also saw tensions rise as both teams battled for control. Three yellow cards were issued in just over a minute late in the half, including two to Peninsula’s Brady Paz Yanicich. His second yellow card, issued in the 41st minute, resulted in a red card and left Peninsula playing with 10 players for the remainder of the match.

Despite the player advantage, Highline had to work to protect its narrow lead as Peninsula continued to create scoring opportunities.

The Thunderbirds finally added some breathing room in the 78th minute when Zack Robertson connected on a header off an assist from John Majankeka, extending Highline’s lead to 2-0 and putting the game out of reach.

Goodrow delivered a standout performance in goal, recording five saves across all 90 minutes to secure the shutout. Peninsula actually outshot Highline 12-11 and held a 5-4 advantage in shots on goal, but the Thunderbirds made their opportunities count.

Thunderbirds look to defend NWAC title

The victory extends Highline’s impressive run to 14 wins (and two draws) since its only loss of the season, which came during the early-season NWAC Friendlies tournament. Now, the defending NWAC champions are looking to make it back-to-back titles and add a sixth championship to the program’s history.

Standing in their way is a familiar opponent: Clark College. The two teams have faced each other three times already this season, with Highline winning all three meetings by a combined score of 7-1. However, Clark is no stranger to postseason competition, having reached the NWAC championship game in 2024. The Penguins have won two conference titles, most recently in 2007.

The Thunderbirds will face the third-seeded Penguins on Friday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, with a trip to the NWAC championship game on the line. The championship match will take place at the Starfire Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 4 p.m.

Just two more wins stand between Highline and a second consecutive NWAC championship.