Conks take Bears for second time this season | Kentwood-Tahoma Girls Soccer

With a little luck and forward Mykala Benjamin in the right place at the right time, Kentwood beat Tahoma for the second time this season on the soccer pitch, ensuring sole possession of first place in the South Puget Sound League North.

With a little luck and forward Mykala Benjamin in the right place at the right time, Kentwood beat Tahoma for the second time this season on the soccer pitch, ensuring sole possession of first place in the South Puget Sound League North.

Kentwood won 1-0 and improved to 14-1-1 on the season and the North girls soccer crown.

Benjamin, a senior, was near the goal when Riley Retz headed a free kick from Madison Fuller that dropped right in front of her feet.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“I saw one of my players going through so I just hung back,” Benjamin said. “The (Tahoma) goalie hit it and the ball came to me so I just hit it.”

And the ball popped off Benjamin’s foot, past the keeper and into the right side of the net at the 14:51 mark of the first half.

That ended up being all the Conquerors needed in a tight, hard fought battle in which the Bears threatened repeatedly but were never able to connect with one of their many shots on goal.

Early in the season, despite getting off to a quick start, Kentwood captains didn’t feel like the team wasn’t putting together on the field but Benjamin said the Conks have found a rhythm.

“We’re connecting really well right now,” she said. “If we play a ball we know how hard to hit it. If someone is in trouble we know where to drop it in.”

And beating Tahoma twice during the regular season is special, too, since it took a shootout for Kentwood to win the 4A girls state soccer title a year ago after finishing third behind Tahoma and Kentlake in the SPSL North.

“It means a lot,” Benjamin said. “We’ve never beaten them twice in one season. It feels really good to beat them twice.”

Meanwhile, Tahoma will end up either second or third, depending on what happens between Auburn and Kentridge this afternoon. If the Chargers win, then they’ll be second and the Bears will be third heading into the playoffs next week.

Kentwood will face Beamer, the top seed out of the SPSL South, at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup for seeding into the West Central District playoffs.

Benjamin said Kentwood needs to try stay connected as a team.

“We need to just keep doing what we’re doing,” she said. “If we do that, we’ll get far.”

 

 

 


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Sports

Kentwood’s Jessica Ajayi takes a three-pointer against Kentridge. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Hoops: Kentwood and Kentridge split doubleheader

Kentridge girls and Kentwood boys take home wins in rivalry clash.

The Seattle Thunderbirds traded Sawyer Mynio to the Calgary Hitmen for two players and four draft picks. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds
Kent-based T-Birds trade away top player for 2 players, 4 draft picks

Defenseman Sawyer Mynio sent to Calgary Hitmen as last-place Seattle builds for future

Courtesy Photo
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kentlake and Kentridge

Jaxon Love (wrestling), Miley Lam (BBall), Jordyn Keith (BBall) and Finnegan Linnane (Wrestling)

Kentlake’s Matthew Lawrence reels the ball in against Decatur. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentlake boys basketball drops sixth straight

Falcons search for answers in HS Bryce Demecilio’s first season.

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Coach of the Month: Jerry Garza

Kent Reporter Coach of the Month: Jerry Garza

Joshua Manzano makes a pass against Todd Beamer. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge drops first game of holiday tournament to Todd Beamer

Chargers just struggled out of the gate and couldn’t catch the Titans.

Kentwood’s Jessica Ajayi dribbles the ball up the floor. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentwood girls basketball drops fourth straight

Team falls to Riverside for first time since 2017. Head Coach Jordan Nero: ‘We’ll find a way, we always do.’

t
Hundreds participate in Kent Christmas Rush run/walk

Seattle’s Nathan Morrisson wins 10K; Kent’s Travis Houser captures 5K

Graphic provided by KSD.
Kent Reporter Athlete of the Week: Kentridge

Genesis Miller (Flag Football) and Gio Moimoi (Basketball) take home this weeks award.

Veronica Garcia gives an interview after winning the 2A girls 400-meter final at the 2024 Washington State Championships at Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma. (Screenshot from Runnerspace.com video)
Proposals seek new rules for transgender athletes in WA schools

Other proposals target student-athlete transfer rules and girls flag football.

Tyanna Sims drives to the basket against Auburn in the loss. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Trojans sweep aside Kentwood in doubleheader

Both boys and girls basketball teams lose to Auburn in NPSL opening play.

Image provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kent-Meridian

Alex Arians (Jr) swim and Aisha Hussein (Jr) wrestling take home this weeks awards.

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Kent Reporter relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in