Balanced effort leads NK to opening round state win

Published 1:30 am Thursday, May 22, 2025

The No. 5 seed North Kitsap Vikings beat the No. 12 seed Quincy Jackrabbits 3-1 at home May 21 in the opening round of the 2A boys state soccer tournament.

NK advances to the state quarterfinals, where they will play a road match at No. 4 seed Archbishop Murphy May 24 at 1 p.m.

The Vikings entered the matchup losing to the Bainbridge Spartans in the district championship May 17 4-2. NK had high expectations for its first state match of the season.

“It’s state, you’ve got to expect, you know, a lot from every other team,” Viking Aaron Lopez said.

NK could not get much going within the first 15 minutes of the match, with both teams playing tight defense and forcing turnovers from the get-go.

Viking Harper Sabari ended the drought for both squads, putting in the first goal of the match at the 21-minute mark and giving the Vikings an early 1-0 lead.

NK goalkeeper Andrew Knott landed an up-close-and-personal save on an aggressive Jackrabbit scoring attempt with 13 minutes remaining in the half, preventing Quincy from tying the match.

The Viking offense kept the ball in their territory, generating many offensive possessions and preventing the Quincy offense from obtaining any shots on goal, leaving the score 1-0 entering halftime.

“We just treat it one game at a time and not try to get ahead of ourselves,” NK coach Greg St. Peter said.

Lopez earned a free kick at the 29-minute mark, but could not get the ball to find the back of the net. Nonetheless, Lopez made up for it by scoring another goal not even three minutes later, pushing the Vikings’ lead to 2-0.

Quincy scored its first goal late in the match, cutting into NK’s lead at three-one.

However, NK was able to hold on for the final ten minutes of the game, keeping the Jackrabbits from mounting a comeback.

“I feel I have full faith in my team,” Lopez said. “I feel like we’re capable of beating any team.”

In other Kitsap state soccer action, No. 1 seed Bainbridge won its opening round match at home against No. 16 Foster 3-1. The Spartans will host No. 9 seed R.A. Long May 24 at 1 p.m.

In 3A, No. 17 seed Central Kitsap won its opening round state contest 2-1 over No. 16 seed Shorecrest, but then was eliminated 1-0 by No. 1 seed Shorewood May 22.

In 1A, No. 20 seed Klahowya saw its season come to an end following an opening round state loss to No. 13 seed King’s Way Christian 2-1 May 20.