POULSBO — The battle for sole third place in the Narrows League will have to wait.

The North Kitsap and Central Kitsap boys’ soccer teams were unable to settle their differences — primarily which squad would take possession of third place in league — after 80 minutes Tuesday night, with things knotted at one apiece as the final whistle sounded.

“This was a game that could have gone either way,” said Vikings’ coach Pat Stickney. “It was well played on both sides.”

Both teams are behind only Gig Harbor and South Kitsap, tied for first in the Narrows’ League.

Stickney said the game was a fast-paced affair, but also a stalemate of a contest. The two teams’ abilities to control the ball led to scoring chances, but tough defenses on both sides held down the scoring, he added.

“This isn’t kickball stuff,” Stickney said. “This is a very fast, very creative game.”

Central Kitsap coach Charles Frohman said his team is getting used to low-scoring matches this season.

“We’re not giving up many goals,” Frohman said. “But we’re not scoring many, either.”

The Cougar coach praised North Kitsap first year Coach Stickney as well.

“(North) has good team speed,” Frohman said. “This is definitely one of the better teams I’ve seen at North over the years.”

Frohman stated that his CK team is dealing with many injury woes and Tuesday’s game was no exception. Cougar Mike Fisher went down with a groin pull in the contest and Cougar co-captain Ben Goodwin aggravated an ankle injury.

“I’ve had to make a new line-up nearly every game,” Frohman said. “Trying to get the team playing together (through the injuries) is hard.”

Central put three forwards on the field with about five minutes left in the game, but Frohman balked at speculating his team “should” have scored.

“Shoulda, coulda, woulda,” the Central coach said.

Central struck early on, with its lone goal of the game coming in the 15th minute of the first half. A loose ball inside North Kitsap’s 18 line gave way to a mad scramble in front of the net. The ball finally rolled out in front of the left side of the net and Fransico Carrasquero kicked it past the sprawled hands of NK goalie Patrick Moore.

The Vikings wouldn’t take long to add their own goal in the 7th minute of the first half. Nearly square on the 18 line, Viking Carlos Portillo blasted a kick that stayed on the ground toward Cougar goalie and co-captain Trevor Lange. But rains of the day left the field slippery, and Lange lost his balance, falling as the ball rolled by for a score.

Both teams had chances to score in the second, but neither team converted on any. Portillo drew a foul close to the net in the 25th minute and his resulting kick nearly escaped the grasps of Lange’s hands.

Cougar mid-fielder and co-captain Keith Cain also blasted a shot in the 6th minute from about the 18 line that just cleared the cross bar of the goal.

North Kitsap will face off once more against Central at 6:45 p.m. April 29 at Silverdale Stadium.

Both teams boast 2-1-2 records on the season, tied for third place in the Narrows League.

Box score

First half scoring: Central Kitsap — Fransico Carrasquero, 15th minute. North Kitsap — Carlos Portillo, 7th minute, assisted by Jonathon Critch. Shots on goal: NK — 21. CK — 12. Saves: NK (Moore) — 11. CK (Lange) — 13.