t Kingston wins

first state playoff game, 2-1.

KINGSTON — Thousands of pounds of pressure was on senior Buccaneer soccer star John Troka, as the outcome of the Bucs’ loser-out state playoff game rested at his feet.

And he rocked it.

The score was tied 1-1, with less than 15 minutes on the clock in the Kingston vs. Anacortes game played at Buccaneer Field Tuesday.

A penalty kick had just been awarded to the Bucs, as a Seahawk defender lost his cool and deliberately touched the ball with his hand in the goalie box.

Troka desperately wanted to take the penalty shot and he’d earned it, head coach Craig Smith said.

“He had more confidence than anybody out there and that’s the guy you want taking the game-winning shot,” he said.

Troka knew exactly what he was doing.

“I was just trying to stay calm and not overpower it,” Troka said after the game was over. “I’ve been practicing all year for this.”

And practice does make perfect.

Without hesitation he ran up to the ball and knocked a rocket grounder to the back of the net. The Seawhawk’s goalie didn’t stand a chance.

The crowd was on its collective feet, Troka’s fist was raised above his head as he ran in front of the goal and the Bucs tackled him to the ground in a giant, celebratory dog pile.

The Bucs had just pulled ahead by one and they knew a victory was mere minutes away.

And the win was theirs to celebrate as Kingston defeated Anacortes, 2-1.

Although the Bucs have racked up goals and wins all season long, it’s required a lot of sweat equity. And the story was the same on Tuesday, as the Bucs came from behind for the win against a very solid and skilled Anacortes team. A team Smith said played like Kingston.

“They could counter quick,” he said. “Give them one to two touches and they were near our net.”

The stage was set — this was the first state game for Kingston and it was the first time in 24 years the Seahawks made the state playoffs.

The winner took all.

“We both wanted it, and there we were bumping heads, shoulders and shins,” Smith said.

The Seahawks gained control of the scoreboard first with a wide-open, breakaway goal at minute 24.

It seemed to happen in slow motion. The Bucs defenders were upfield as a Seahawk player counter-attacked and took off with the ball. KHS goalie Devin Langker came to the front of the box for the stop, but the shot went high and into the net.

“It was a very nice goal,” Smith said.

Kingston didn’t falter.

With four minutes remaining in the first half, the score was evened up.

Benjamin Van Kleek won the ball at mid-field while being hacked by Seahawk defenders, and passed it off to Chance Pruiett, who was more than 25 yards away from the goal.

“Sometimes you got to make choices whether to shoot or pass and I saw an opening and took it,” Pruiett recalled. “Right after I kicked it I just felt it was going in.”

The shot sailed up, then dropped down, and curved before landing in the goal.

“As soon as I realized it, I was ecstatic,” Pruiett said.

The bench players were in awe as they were overheard saying, “That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Smith is pleased, to say the least, of his hard-working, winning team.

“For the kids to keep their composure to come from behind in state-level game it showed a lot of grit,” he said. “I’m just proud of my kids.”

And he’s not the only one beaming with pride. The entire community and KHS student body exhibits Buc spirit.

Smith said Kingston business owners, chamber staff and other volunteers took Monday off to prepare Buccaneer Field for a playoff game, as Tuesday’s game was originally scheduled for Silverdale Stadium. The venue was changed late Monday morning.

And on game day, the bleachers — an extra set was brought in — were filled to the brink with Kingston fans decked in maroon and gold KHS sweatshirts. Anacortes fans also showed up in force as a rooter bus made the trip.

KHS school spirit was all-encompassing, as the student fans were uber-excited to have the game played at Kingston.

“I think it’s really awesome,” said KHS junior Drew Campbell. “It proves to other schools we’re a force to be reckoned with and these guys worked really hard to be here. It’s really cool. I’m definitely happy.”

Campbell and fellow soccer supporter junior Kira Markey said school spirit on game days is huge.

The student body wears school colors, posters were hung around the school, and the familiar call of “Game Day,” can be heard ringing through the halls.

“I have a friend on the team who put his hair in a mohawk and shouted ‘game day’ all the time,” Markey said. “There’s just a lot of school spirit on game days.”

The students and community will have another chance to rally around the Bucs soccer team, as the win on Tuesday advanced the Bucs to state quarterfinal action. Kingston faces Sehome today at 1 p.m. at Buccaneer Field.

“Win or lose this community has just rallied around, not just the team but the whole school,” Smith said. “It’s very exciting.”