Email This   Larger Font      Print This   Smaller Font Advertisement   Mountain View 3, Kentwood 2 (SO) What happened: Mountain View made all five of its penalty kicks in a shootout to advance. What it means: The Thunder are the first 4A GSHL team to win the first round since 2002.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008
By Somer Breeze Columbian Staff Writer

BATTLE GROUND — For 90 minutes, Kyle Humphrey was inside the soccer goal.

But after 80 minutes of regulation and two scoreless overtimes, the Mountain View senior goalkeeper was able to serve a new role.

Humphrey was the first of five Thunder to convert their penalty kicks in a 3-2 shootout victory over Kentwood in the first round of the Class 4A state tournament at Battle Ground Stadium on Tuesday night.

“That was the first PK I’ve ever taken (in a game),” Humphrey said. “I practice every single day. I take PKs in practice while everyone else does drills.”

His practice paid off at a most opportune time.

Mountain View is the first team from the 4A Greater St. Helens League to advance past the first round of state since 2002. The GSHL and district champs will next face South Puget Sound League south division champ Puyallup on Saturday in the quarterfinals.

The Vikings edged Marysville 2-1 on Tuesday.

“We’ve been practicing (penalty kicks) all week,” Mountain View coach Troy Sletten said. “(Humphrey) just steps up and he’s money, and he’s not afraid to take it. Of all the kids, I think he was one of the most consistent all week.”

Senior Guilherme Almeida made the second PK for Mountain View before Kentwood’s Bryan Carlson’s kick bounced off the crossbar for the Chargers’ third kick.

Seniors Javier Macias, James Partee and junior Sujinda Dangvan all scored to seal the win.

A sense of urgency fueled the Thunder midway through the second half of regulation after Spencer Ward scored to give Kentwood a 2-1 advantage.

But Almeida caught a break and tied it at 2 on an unassisted goal in regulation.

“They worked hard and didn’t get down on themselves,” Sletten said. “We responded well and with 12 seniors, that should be what happens. Kudos to the seniors, they held the guys together and kept battling.”

Kentwood was without its starting goal keeper for most of the second half after Mitch Pombrio and Mountain View’s Evan O’Hara had a rough knee-to-head collision inside the 18-yard box. Pombrio was in and out of consciousness and received medical attention. O’Hara sat out for the remainder of the second half for precautionary reasons.

In the first half Kentwood’s Ryan Curtis got one past a diving Humprhey to put the Chargers on the board. But Macias evened the score before the break with a header goal on an assist from Trevor Tangen.

“It’s been extra special this year,” Sletten said. “We knew we had our work cut out for us, but with this group I’m super happy because all these kids have come together. It’s working like it’s supposed to. We’re not peaking too early.”