Wolves even slate at 3-3

For the time being, at least, the goal-scoring blues are no longer plaguing the South Kitsap boys soccer team.

After dropping a 2-1 decision to Port Angeles on March 21 despite outshooting the Roughriders 22-4, Wolves’ coach Eric Bergeson issued a simple challenge to his players: put the football in the goal.

The Wolves responded in a coach-pleasing fashion. First they exploded for a relative orgy of scoring on Tuesday, beating North Kitsap 4-1. Then they came back on Friday night at Joe Knowles Stadium to blank Central Kitsap 2-0.

The Wolves took that modest two-game win streak and 3-2 Narrows League record (3-3 overall) into last night’s game against Bremerton.

Against the undermanned Cougars, who were missing three starters to injury and illness, the Wolves got all the offense they would need when Matt Hopper scored in the 28th minute.

Red-hot junior Jerad Kupietz scored his fifth goal in the 77th minute to give keeper Danny Phelps, who recorded his first shutout, some breathing room. Kupietz led South with a goal and two assists in the win over North.

The Wolves outshot the Cougars (0-3-2, 2-4-2) 24-6 and got outstanding defensive play Brandon Stacy, Evan Winslow, Robbie Robinson, Chris Kendall and Jason Boyett.

“South is kind of versatile,” Central Kitsap coach Rob Cole said. “They are really able to play at a level higher than we put them at. They don’t have anybody who really sticks out, but all their starters are solid and they pass the ball well. They play really well together as a team and they could definitely upset anybody in the league.”

Central Kitsap played without three starters, senior stopper Jesse Richards (concussion), senior defender Shane Powell (schedule conflict) and sohpomore Keith Cain (illness).

“CK was missing a couple key guys,” Bergeson said. “But you would not have known it. They played real tough.”

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