A Disappointing End to a Great Start

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The team huddles up before the game. (Photo by: Donna Field)

CK’s Boy’s Soccer team had a great season.. That is until Friday, April 29th. The game was against the Capital Cougars, and everything was going well…. The game was tied 0-0 until Capital’s Nigel El-Sokkary took a free kick. The ball bounced right into senior Michael  Barros arms. The assistant referee decided that it was a goal since the ball bounced in front of the goal line but goalie Barros was standing on the goal line. The center referee talked to the assistant referee and agreed and awarded Capital with the game winning goal. Coach Christopher Floro tried to argue with the referee but was quickly turned down. The boys needed to win the next two games against the Shelton Highclimbers and the Foss Falcons to be the Narrows League Champions.

 

Senior Kaleb Bates waits for the team to scatter before kicking the ball across the field.
Senior Kaleb Bates waits for the team to scatter before kicking the ball across the field.( Photo by Donna Field)

 

On Monday, May 2nd, the boys played Shelton, and again the score was 0-0.  The referee added two minutes due to injury time, and with those two minutes left, senior Jack Coupe assisted a ball to senior Drew Pearson and scored a goal! All of a sudden we all hear whistles.. The referees gave a foul to Coupe and didn’t allow the goal. The Shelton Highclimbers quickly got the ball and dribbled it all the way to the goal and scored.

Floro, a lot of fans, and parents did not understand why the goal counted, since those two minutes were over and the game should have been over. Senior Isiah Roland asked the referee why time went over and received a red card, which means he could no longer play the next game against Foss.  Assistant Coaches Stephen Floro, Patrick Leonard, and Lewis Watson bombarded the referees with questions, trying to make them change their calls. They were turned down.

“That wasn’t right” said Coach Floro. He formally emailed the referee association with a full video of the game. “My complaint fell on deaf ears,” said Floro. “I’ve never been one to blame a referee for any form of shortcomings but the glaringly poor officiating during the Capital and Shelton games absolutely contributed to our second place league finish.”

On Wednesday, May 4th, the boys headed to Mount Tahoma High School to play their final league game versus the Foss Falcons. The game wasn’t going as planned and Coach Floro was not happy. With four minutes left, the Foss Falcons scored with a penalty kick on senior Kaleb Bates in the goal. The Cougars were not going to lose to the last place team in the league. They quickly scored two goals, thanks to Coupe and senior Andrew Campbell! They ended the game 2-1 and ended the season 10-2-2, getting second in league… one point behind the winner, the Capital Cougars 10-1-3.

However, the boys’ season is not done! Their first districts game was on Thursday May 12th, the boys beat Peninsula High School and will continue on. Their next game is on Saturday, May 14th at Highline Memorial Stadium.  They have to win the next game to advance to state. Wish them luck!

Go Cougs!