North Kitsap’s soccer squad started slow against Kingston but fired a few goals late to win 4-0 at home April 18.

“They packed it in and kudos to them for defending well as a team,” NK coach Greg St. Peter said. “It has what we have seen the second half of the season, and it is difficult no matter how good you are. I just told the guys to be patient.”

Pepe De Luna scored from a through ball within the first couple minutes of the game. However, the Vikings were unable to score for the next 60 minutes.

“We defended well and were focused,” Kingston coach Craig Smith said. “We had a game plan and knew they came down the flanks a lot. My outside midfielders were assistant fullbacks. We had three in the middle dominate defensively.”

Kingston’s first opportunity came as a corner kick 10 minutes into the game but failed to convert. De Luna had a few opportunities after juking a pair of Buccaneers but was unable to shoot on target for the Vikings.

Kingston’s offside trap humbled NK’s quick forwards. “We have been working on that but part of it was them thinking they could just run through,” Smith said. “We had a couple of opportunities to score with our speed. I was hoping we could get a goal to lift our spirit up.”

Kingston’s Trenton Stanton chased two long ball passes and had shots on the goal, but both shots were saved.

In the second half, NK’s Gavin Rogers looked to add another quick goal but nailed the ball off the post. With 20 minutes remaining, NK’s forwards finally found gaps in Kingston’s defense. Aaron Lopez shot across his body to score the second goal, De Luna snuck a ball past the goalie for the third, and Harper Sabari rifled the fourth from 30 yards away.

Although the Buccaneers struggled at the end, Smith was proud of his squad. “To see the kids develop and evolve and stand up to the best teams in the state, you got to feel good about that,” he said.

Viking Pepe De Luna scores two goals against Kingston.

Buc Griffin Clark passes the ball upfield.