Jefferson upends KL in defensive struggle

Jefferson High School girls soccer coach Wade Webber had a pretty good idea Tuesday’s match against Kentlake would be a low-scoring affair.

Jefferson High School girls soccer coach Wade Webber had a pretty good idea Tuesday’s match against Kentlake would be a low-scoring affair.

“We had seen them play against Kentridge … and it made some things come into a little clearer focus in regards to their formations,” he said. “They look a lot like us. They are difficult to score on and play good defensive ball.”

Such was the case on Tuesday, when the Raiders couldn’t do much, but did just enough to get past the Falcons en route to a 1-0 win at French Field in Kent.

It took the Raiders (3-3-3 with 12 points) just eight minutes to find the chink in Kentlake’s defensive armor as Lauren Jerde set up Lindsey Dahl for the game’s lone goal.

It was Kentlake’s fifth straight game without a win. During that span, the Falcons (2-4-3, 9 points) have lost three games and tied two others.

Jefferson goalkeeper Liz Fitch earned the shutout.

“It’s a 1-0 win and we’ll take the three points,” Webber said. “But you have to give credit to them (Kentlake). They pushed extra players forward in the second half and were playing four forwards. It was a little nervy at the end. We never felt like it was our game until the very end.”

It was the perfect beginning to the second half of the season, Webber conceded.

“The focus on the second games of the season is that you have to do better than the first,” he said.

• ALSO: Goalkeepers Krystal Daniels and Natalie Spadafora helped Kentridge (3-3-3, 12 points) blank Auburn (2-6-1, 7 points) 2-0 on Tuesday. Kentridge’s Dana Johnson and Emily Hanna provided the Chargers with all the offensive they would need, scoring in the 53rd and 79th-minutes respectively. … Kentwood (9-0-0, 27 points ) started off the second half of the season much like it finished the first: With a shutout. Chelsi Pennington and Kiana Kraft each collected a goal as the Conquerors held off Federal Way (3-5-1, 10 points), 2-0. Courtney Johnson and Megan Walburn combined in goal for the shutout, their ninth straight. … Lisa Farhner led Auburn Riverside’s offensive outburst on Tuesday, netting a pair of goals in a 7-0 win over Kent-Meridian (0-9-0, 0 points. The second-place Ravens improved to 6-1-2 with 20 points. Shannon Keith, Megan Amis, Lauren Johnson, Stephanie Horibe and Nellie Parker also tallied goals for the Ravens. Taylor Abrass and Gina Cardenas combined for the shutout. … Auburn Mountainview (2-2-0 in league, 6-3-1 overall) fell to Enumclaw (3-1-0, 6-2-0) in SPSL 3A action this past Tuesday in Enumclaw.