Service used a second-half explosion on Wednesday to stymie East and stay in the hunt for the Cook Inlet Conference's third and final berth in the boys state soccer tournament.
The Cougars put four balls in the back of the net in the second half to roar to a 5-0 win over host East, giving themselves a vital three points in the standings to pull level with Bartlett for third place. The conference's top three teams will advance to the state tournament later this month.
"We seem to be a second half team this year," said Service head coach Dan Rufner. "Something must have clicked."
The game was tightly contested for much of the first half, with East getting the better scoring chances early. But a left-footed blast from Fisher Rogers in the 29th minute broke the deadlock and seemed to break the T-birds' spirits as well.
The second half was all Service.
Captain Johnny Yoon made it 2-0 just three minutes in the second half off an assist from Azzam Azzam, who himself was aided by Brady Graff, whose steal on the defensive end started the scoring sequence.
Two minutes later a handball by East in the penalty box resulted in a penalty shot for Service (6-3-1), which Yoon calmly put away to make it 3-0.
Azzam picked up a goal in the 50th minute and youngster Gunnar Rogers capped the scoring on a goal assisted by fellow freshman Japeth Taylor. Goalkeeper Caleb Van Blankenstein recorded the shutout.
"It was great to get everybody some playing time," Rufner said.
The game was a stark contrast to the teams' first match, a 1-1 tie in April. Rufner said the difference this time was better teamwork and a more aggressive approach in the second half.
"It was nice to see them play together," he said.
Service and Bartlett each have 16 points in the CIC standings, behind first-place South (25) and Dimond (20). No other team has more than seven points, leaving Service and Bartlett to slug it out for the final state tourney berth.
Service beat Bartlett 3-0 in their first match of the season and the they play again May 16. That game could very well determine which team plays at state and which gets a jump-start on summer vacation.
"That's pretty much it," Rufner said.
Girls soccer
South 2, Chugiak 0
Kayla Sims and Megan Currier scored goals Wednesday to help lead South to a 2-0 win over Chugiak in a CIC game at South High.