It’s a good thing Puyallup forward Justin Veltung thrives when it matters the most on the soccer field.
Veltung’s left footed laser shot into the right corner of the net with a little under three minutes remaining in regulation, clinched the Puyallup Vikings 1-0 victory against Mountain View High School (Vancouver) in the Class 4A soccer quarterfinals on May 16 at Sparks Stadium. With the victory in hand, the Vikings advance to the semi-finals on May 23 against Beamer High School at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood.
Following the only goal of the contest, anyone in attendance at Sparks could see the exhilaration and pure joy flowing through Veltung’s body. Veltung took off like a dart, pulling his shirt over his head for a few seconds before sprinting 50 yards to midfield and was then mobbed by his entire team for a celebration of epic proportions. Veltung was penalized with a yellow card for his excessive celebration. But it wasn’t like Veltung, or anyone else associated with the Puyallup soccer team, cared about the referees’ decision to issue the small infraction.
“I just had to do it,” Veltung said. “As soon as the ball hit the net I knew it was over. I knew we had the win.”
Veltung, who is right footed, scored the game winner with his left foot. Puyallup head coach Matt White was ecstatic to see Veltung’s hard work and dedication at becoming more adept with his left foot payoff.
“Earlier in the season I told him he needed to work on his shot with his left foot,” White said. “He told me, ‘coach I hate working on shots with my left foot.’ He said that but he practiced it a lot and look what he did for us tonight. It adds a new dimension to his game. He has such a quick first step. Once he cut back, he had an open shot with his left and took it.”
Since the state playoffs have begun, the entire Vikings roster has been trying to get White to shave off his mustache or get a Mohawk for good luck in the state tournament. Currently, about a third of the team sports a Mohawk. White said shaving might be something he does sooner rather than later.
“I’ll shave whatever is necessary to get us into the state finals,” White said. “You can print that.”
Vikings win first round opener against Marysville-Pilchuck
It took a little longer than usual for a winner to be decided between Puyallup and Marysville-Pilchuck’s soccer squads in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs on May 13 at Sparks Stadium.
After 80 minutes of regulation and two-five minute overtime sessions, the Vikings and Tomahawks were tied at 1-1 apiece. Veltung scored for the Vikings in the seventh minute of play and Marysville Pilchuck’s Brady Ballew tied the game putting a header past Puyallup goalie Kyle Bilharz in the 38th minute.
No one would find the back of the net again until both squads were forced to settle the score in a shootout. Puyallup took advantage, scoring on all four of their attempts in the shootout. With the Tomahawks trailing 4-3, senior forward Ryan Wilson stepped to the center of the field hoping to tie it up and keep his teams’ chances alive. Wilson’s shot sailed over the crossbar and Puyallup goalie Kyle Bilharz, resulting in Puyallup securing a hard fought 2-1 victory.
“I’m glad we had the lead during the shootout. I think that put pressure on them and helped us win it,” Bilharz said.
Puyallup gained the upper hand after Bilharz’s deflected their second shot of the shootout. Marysville-Pilchuck never recovered.
White thought his team squandered opportunities to put the game away in regulation.
“We had so many chances. It was just one of those things where it was a step here or a step there,” White said. “I thought we outplayed them the whole game.”
Going into the shootout, White felt confident his team would pull through.
“I thought if we go to a shootout, it’s not a bad night to do it. We’re at home. We got our fans here and we’re in our comfort zone,” White said. “It worked out perfectly for us.”
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