TACOMA — North was put in an awkward position in the first two games of the Narrows League playoffs this past week, and the determined Vikings came out 1-1.

After hosting Mount Tahoma (1-9 Narrows, 2-9-1 overall) — a team with a defensive approach to the game — on their grass field Tuesday, the Vikings turned around to take on the Narrows League No. 2 Stadium — a team fueled by a strong offense — on the turf of Mount Tahoma Stadium the very next day.

On top of the differences in game speed and setting, the Vikings were also working with a varied line-up, missing three starters — seniors Brenna Lander (forward) and Aisha Shurick (marking back) and freshman Siara Byers (forward).

Lander is likely out for the season with a strained hamstring while Shurick — who sustained a concussion in Tuesday’s game against Mount Tahoma — is awaiting doctor’s approval to play. Byers should return as North takes on South Kitsap at 1 p.m. today at the Stadium Bowl in Tacoma.

“It’s hard playing games back-to-back, especially with two teams that are so different in the way they play, and the fact that you are going from grass to turf,” junior midfielder Stephanie Skelly said of the teams’ first NL playoff games.

The Vikings picked up a big, 6-0, victory over Mount Tahoma Tuesday, in their final home game of the season — the initial loser-out game of the Narrows League playoffs.

Sophomore Meghan Antoni scored the first two goals of the game, unassisted, for North in the middle of the first half. The goals came a few minutes within each other, putting the Thunderbirds to bed early.

North’s defense stood strong, closing out the first half with a 2-0 lead and carrying through to the 60th minute when Skelly took a breakaway through the middle of the field to the goal box, where she was tackled by MT’s goalie who was red-carded for the crash.

Skelly nailed the penalty kick to give the Vikings a 3-0 lead in the 62nd minute.

Alyssa Walker and Siara Byers each scored from inside the goal box to boost North’s lead to 5-0 before sweeper Candyce Eaton came up to seal the game with a 30-yard free kick that snuck in under the crossbar.

“The Mount Tahoma game, we scored six goals, but that didn’t prepare us real well for the Stadium game,” said NK head coach Pat Stickney.

Neither did losing key players to injury for the first round of the Narrows League playoffs against Stadium Wednesday — where a win would’ve assured the Vikings a spot in the state tournament.

Stadium pulled out the NK heartbreaker, 1-0.

“We were depleted considerably, but having said that, I thought that our play against Stadium was rather good,” Stickney said, praising the efforts of JV players who stepped up to fill in. “We battled them all the way to the end; one little slip up was really the difference.”

Despite a relentless offensive attack from the Tigers, North’s defense held strong through the first half and most of the second. Late in the game, Stadium’s XXXX XXXX knocked in the deciding goal which North could not answer.

“We didn’t have a full offensive push,” Skelly said of NK’s downfall in Wednesday’s game.

“It really bothers me a lot that our No. 1 forward is not available,” Stickney said of missing Lander. “We’re making it real difficult for teams to score, but at the same time, if we can’t put it in the back of the net, it’s tough.”

The Vikings (5-4-2 NL, 6-5-2) will face the No. 3 Wolves (6-3-2, 6-4-3) in a loser-out game today at the Stadium Bowl where the teams’ will fight to advance in the quest for the final state playoff spot from the Narrows League which will be decided Monday.

“This group of girls, they fight tooth and nail and I’m very pleased with the effort they put on the pitch,” Stickney said. “It isn’t particularly artistic, but every game down the stretch is a physical game, and if you aren’t physical you are going to lose.”