SILVERDALE — At times, Tuesday afternoon’s tilt between North and Central Kitsap resembled a car wash more than a soccer game.
With rain pounding the turf at Silverdale Stadium, players and coaches on the sidelines huddled under hats, squeezed under umbrellas and, in the Cougars’ case, ducked beneath a portable canopy.
The downpour wasn’t the only factor dampening the contest; both teams were short several players because of injuries and spring break absences.
The squads battled through the weather and shorthanded rosters to tie 1-1.
Central Kitsap took five shots in the first 12 minutes. The first was close, with a blast from 20 yards out ringing off the top bar, but the fifth was better.
Keith Bisialian, warded off from a charge at goal by NK defender Reid Ammann, kicked a short pass to Tim Gihring, who scored.
“I thought it was a bad shot,” Gihring said after the game. “But right place, right time.”
The Vikings responded by tightening their defense. They played the game without starting goalie Brenden Phillips, who missed his second game with a broken thumb.
He could be out another two weeks.
Freshman keeper Patrick Moore played all 80 minutes against the Cougars and stopped five shots, including two in the first half by CK stalwart Brandon Screen.
In the second half, North Kitsap responded with a goal off a free kick by Jorge Gonzalez.
It was Gonzalez’s first game with NK.
Each team had opportunities in the 30 minutes of play after the second goal, but neither converted.
Central Kitsap Coach Robert Cole said the Cougars (2-2-1 in league, 2-3-1 overall) were hampered by the weather.
“Any time you get weather like this, it’s hard to stand and watch, and it’s hard to play,” he said.
North Kitsap Head Coach Chris Heins said that the Vikings (0-4-1, 1-5-1) and the Cougars both had to play in the weather.
“The surface is slippery for both teams. It’s equal,” he said. “But it’s tough to adapt to that surface. There’s not a lot you can do when you can’t get your footing.”
North Kitsap player Ryan George said the wet weather made the ball skip and move differently than usual. But he agreed with teammate Terry Darrow, who said the game was hardly a waste of time.
“It was sloppy,” Darrow said. “Fun, though.”
