UNIVERSITY PLACE — The Curtis boys soccer team was looking to turn the momentum from an undefeated May into an upset on Saturday.
But Skyview senior midfielder Carter Johnson and his Storm teammates had other ideas.
Johnson, the two-time Washington state Gatorade Player of the Year, scored the game’s lone first-half goal, and the Storm got strong play on the defensive end, resulting in a 2-1 win over Curtis of University Place in the Class 4A state quarterfinal on Saturday.
“We finished fourth in our league, and went to the (state) quarterfinals before losing to the top team in the state … pretty impressive,” Curtis coach Frank Hankel said of his team.
Skyview will play Ferris of Spokane in the 4A semifinal at 6 p.m. Friday in Puyallup.
Johnson scored in the 13th minute on a free kick from the left side, sending a rocket into the right corner past goalkeeper Carter Shirreff from about 25 yards out.
After very few solid looks in the first half, the Vikings finally got a chance to tie the game in the 49th minute when they were awarded a penalty kick after a hand ball infraction.
But Storm goalkeeper Evan Laws made a diving save on Eddie Na’s shot headed ?toward the left corner.
“The margin is paper-thin in these (state) games,” Hankel said. “The difference is one set piece from them and a penalty kick for us. If we don’t concede that set piece and we make our penalty kick, it’s completely different.”
Brandon Zilles added an insurance goal in the 73rd minute for Skyview (15-1-2), ultimately making Na’s goal for Curtis in the 78th minute insignificant.
“They are a heck of a team and they’re ranked number one in the state for a reason,” Hankel said.
Skyview is making its first trip to the state semifinals since winning the 4A state championship in 2012. It also marks the third consecutive season that a 4A Greater St. Helens team has reached the state semifinals.
