Eastlake boys soccer recovers from shootout loss to take third in state

The Eastlake soccer team turned a tough 4A state semifinal loss on Friday into strong end to the season on Saturday. Less than 24 hours after losing a shootout to Bellarmine Prep — a team ranked No. 9 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America — the Wolves battled back to beat Todd Beamer of Federal Way, 2-1, for third place.

May 29, 2008 1:55 am
Eastlake’s Tyler Klein heads the ball away from Bellarmine’s Dylan Gaydosh Friday at Lakewood’s Harry Lang Stadium.
Eastlake’s Tyler Klein heads the ball away from Bellarmine’s Dylan Gaydosh Friday at Lakewood’s Harry Lang Stadium.

The Eastlake soccer team turned a tough 4A state semifinal loss on Friday into strong end to the season on Saturday.

Less than 24 hours after losing a shootout to Bellarmine Prep — a team ranked No. 9 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America — the Wolves battled back to beat Todd Beamer of Federal Way, 2-1, for third place.

Scoreless through most of the first half, Eastlake senior Jordan Softli put the Wolves on the board first in the 36th minute with an unassisted goal.

Eastlake struck again just four minutes into the second half, this time on an unassisted goal from junior Gordon Savage — his second score of the season.

Todd Beamer scored in the 68th minute on a penalty kick by Troy Peterson, but Eastlake fended off the rally.

Bellarmine Prep 3, Eastlake 2

Eastlake just missed an opportunity to advance into the state finals on Friday, falling 3-2 to Bellarmine Prep.

Tied 2-2 through regulation and two five-minute overtimes, the teams were forced to go to a best of five penalty-kick shootout. Eastlake missed on its first two attempts — once off the crossbar and once via a save from goalkeeper Chris Carlin — and Bellarmine pulled away, outscoring the Wolves 3-1 on free shots. Senior Tyler Klein punched in Eastlake’s only penalty kick.

The Wolves had Bellarmine against the ropes early, grabbing a lead under four minutes into the contest. Senior Justin Lewis led Sofli with a perfectly placed ball down the right sideline. Sofli beat a defender and booted the ball in the left corner of the net. The Lions knotted the contest up in the 10th minute on via penalty kick and took the lead in the 57th minute on a goal from Scott Hanson.

Eastlake countered in the 67th minute on a controversial play. Senior Easton Fix booted a free kick from into the goal box from 45 yards out. Savage headed the ball away from Carlin. The two collided in mid-air forcing the ball loose and junior forward Kevin Braun knocked the ball into an open net.

Bellarmine went on to win the state championship, knocking off Puyallup 2-1 in another shootout.