PHS loses battle of Vikings in state semi-final game

In a battle of Vikings, Puyallup ran into a problem--well about 12 problems actually--that it couldn't answer. Curtis' depth and overall swim speed did Puyallup in, 20-7, Friday in a semi-final game in the Puget Sound State Water Polo Tournament.
While the final score would indicate that Curtis dominated the game from the start, Puyallup was actually in control early. It looked like the momentum from the first-round Stadium win would be enough to upset one of the State's top water polo programs. Puyallup forced the Curtis goalie into a four-meter penalty, but the Vikings couldn't convert. Then Puyallup held Curtis scoreless on a power play following a Katie Kindle kick out foul. Paige Boyer gave Puyallup its only lead of the game with a drive down the middle for a score with 4:09 left in the first quarter. Curtis then showed why it is a perenial polo power as it ran off four straight goals in less than two minutes to jump out front, 4-1. Puyallup countered with a Kim Akiona score that came off a sweet assist from Kindle with 39 second left in the quarter. It didn't deter Curtis, however, as it scored again with just 10 seconds left.The second and third quarters saw Puyallup get chewed up in a Curtis feeding frenzy. Curtis went on a 12-2 tear, and Puyallup was on its way to its first loss of the season. Puyallup didn't show any quit though as it outscored Curtis 3-2 in the final quarter. Hillary McDonald scored on textbook pop shot off an assist from Haley Carroll. McDonald's score was sandwiched between two Carroll scores, last one coming off great lead pass from Kindle with just 10 seconds left to play. The loss now moves Puyallup into a Saturday afternoon game with Enumclaw. That winner will play for 3rd/4th place Saturday night against either Stadium or Gig Harbor.

Puyallup edges Stadium in first round of state tournament

Puyallup's first trip to the state tournament in more than five years produced what will probably be the best game of the tournament as the Vikings nipped the Stadium Tigers, 11-10.
The Vikings win over Stadium moves Puyallup into the state semifinals against water polo power, Curtis High School. But things didn't start out so well for Puyallup. The Vikings fell behind 2-0 as Stadium outswam Puyallup early. The Viks didn't get on the board until midway through the first period when Haley Carroll scored her first of three first-quarter goals. Following an ejection of Paige Boyer Stadium went out to a 3-1 lead on the ensuing power play. Carroll than ran off the next two scores to get the Viks to a 3-3 tie. To start the second, Carroll gave Puyallup a 4-3 lead, but Stadium promptly went on a 3-0 run to take a 7-4 lead with :55 left in the half. The Viks found answers in the last 36 seconds as Kim Akiona scored and then Bri Watts buried a shot deep into the net with just three seconds left the half. The third quarter saw Puyallup take the lead back, 8-7, thanks to Watt's second goal of the game. The Vikings pushed the lead to 9-7 on a Boyer lob in the right corner and seemed to be in control of the game. Hannah Fralick was shutting down the two-meter play, and Puyallup was in a comfortable groove. However, a four meter shot and a quick breakaway drew Stadium into a 9-9 tie with 4:14 left to play. Katie Kindle drilled a shot at the 3:25 mark to make it 10-9 Puyallup. Stadium tied it a 10 apiece with 2:39 left and had a chance to take the lead wtih two minutes following an ejection foul on Hillary McDonald. Kelsey Hamilton got the block on the shot . Puyallup then squandered a golden opportunity when it missed a shot following a double ejection against Stadium . Stadium didn't score on its next possession, but Kindle found a streaking Carroll, who drained a shot with :43 seconds left. Stadium had one last shot as Carroll was ejected with 28 seconds left. The Tigers worked the ball patiently, but the Viking defense stood tall, and Stadium's shot with six seconds left was just wide left and Hamilton flipped the ball to a reentering Carroll, who swam out the clock. Puyallup improved to 20-0 on the year with what was undoubtly the most exciting win in Viking polo history.

Puyallup simply perfect after win over Bonney Lake

The Puyallup girls water polo team wrapped up a perfect season with a 19-7 victory over the Panthers of Bonney Lake. The win gave the Vikings a 19-0 overall record and a 14-0 slate in divisional play. Winning the divisional title also earned Puyallup a number one seed in next week's state tournament at Rogers High School.
On a night when Puyallup's seven senior received recognition for their contributions to the Viking program, it was appropriate that seniors led the way to victory over Bonney Lake. Haley Carroll once again led the way with seven goals. Katie Kindle and Kim Akiona both tallied three scores and Bri Watts chipped in two. Megan Hamilton went the distance in the cage coming up with 10 saves to set the tone defensively for the Vikings. Hannah Fralick was also solid on the defensive side, getting several knockdowns despite being strapped with two ejection fouls. Hillary McDonald, getting her first start of the year, was also solid in helping Puyallup tune up for its first round state game on Wednesday. But the tune up sputtered at times for Puyallup as it was hard for the Vikings to get into a rhythm or flow thanks in part to Bonney Lake playing a slow-down game that often saw the Panthers hold the ball 15 to 20 seconds of their shot clock before getting into their offense. After a close first quarter that saw Puyallup take a 5-2 lead, the Vikings then outscored Bonney Lake 14-5 over the next three frames. Carroll added four of her seven scores in the second half and a host of other Vikings added scores to secure the win. Lauren Griffin scored in a breakaway in the third; Watts got the fourth quarter started with a score followed by a Fralick goal with just over five minutes to play. Emily Hager then tapped in a miss for a score with 2:23 left, and Kindle closed out the scoring at the two minute mark. During a pregame ceremony Puyallup's seven departing seniors received from parents a plaque that recognized their efforts in Puyallup earning its first-ever league title and trip to state. Even Coach Todd Fletcher got in on the celebration of perfection, as he was ceremoniously dumped into the pool by the team following the win. Next week will find the Vikings at the Rogers High School Aquatic Center in the uncharted waters of the state tournament. Puyallup opens state play on Wednesday at 7:15 pm. Its opponent mostly likely will be Stadium High School.

Viks scratch out win over Enumclaw; clinch league title

Puyallup edged Enumclaw 14-11 on Wednesday afternoon in Enumclaw to secure its first Puget Sound Divisional title and the division's top seed to next week's state tournament at Rogers High School. The Vikings will open state play on Wednesday at 7:15 against most likely Stadium High School. Puyallup will close out it regular season with a home game on Friday against Bonney Lake. It will be senior night and seven seniors will be playing their final home game of their Viking careers.
The Vikings needed all that senior leadership and more to take the sting out of a fired up Hornet squad. Trailing 3-2 after one quarter, Puyallup battled back on consecutive goals from Kim Akiona and Haley Carroll to take a 5-4 lead with just under three minutes to play in the half. Enumclaw then scored of its own, but Akiona scored her second goal with eight seconds in the half to forge a 6-6 tie. The third quarter was more back and forth water polo. The lead change hands three times. Carroll's second goal of the quarter gave Puyallup a short lived 9-8 lead with :54 left, but Enumclaw managed a power play goal with six seconds left in the quarter. In the first three quarters, Puyallup was plagued by poor passing, spacing and the resultant turnovers. In the fourth, the Vikings' transition game returned, and they pulled out to a two-goal lead on scores from Paige Boyer and Katie Kindle. Kindle added her fourth goal of the game with three and a half minutes left to give Puyallup a thee goal lead that it wouldn't relinguish. The Vikings five-goal scoring burst in the fourth was fueled by tough two-meter defense from Hannah Fralick and perimeter stops from Bri Watts and Katie Hayes. When things finally settled Puyallup improved to 18-0 on the year and was lead by Carroll's five goals and Kindle's four. Boyer added three tallies and Akiona added two.

Puyallup swims over Sumner

Puyallup's 22-6 win over Sumner on Friday inched it closer to a perfect season and a number one seed in the state tournament in two weeks. The win assured the Vikings of a finish no worse than a first place tie with just two regular season games remaining.
The normally defensive-minded Bri Watts got Puyallup started against the Spartans by scoring two of its first two goals. She went on to score a season-high four goals. Kim Akiona scored two more goals as Puyallup jumped out to a 6-1 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, an ailing Katie Kindle came to life and scored three goals including a four meter as the Vikings increased its lead to a 10-3 halftime lead. The second half saw a lot of Vikings contribute to their 17th win of the year. Haley Carroll and Paige Boyer scored two goals apiece and Joanna Boschee', Hannah Fralick and Katie Hayes all added scores to move Puyallup out to an 18-4 lead. In the fourth, Alex Clark scored two from the two-meter spot while Bianca Jimenez drained a four-meter shot to put Puyallup up 21-6. Lauren Griffin closed out the scoring with a right, high-corner shot off an assist from Clark. Next, Puyallup will face its final test of the regular season when it travels to Enumclaw on Wednesday to play the Hornets. Game time is set for 3:20.

Vikings keep rolling on the River

What a difference five days make. After struggling to defeat Auburn-Riverside last Friday, Puyallup had no trouble with the Ravens May 3 as it won 17-5 to improve to 11-0 in league play; 16-0 overall.
Puyallup used three goals from Joanna Boschee' in the first quarter and one each from Kim Akiona and Haley Carroll to stake the Vikings to a 5-0 first quarter lead, and they never looked back after that. Last week at home against Riverside, Puyallup trailed in the first period and struggled to contain the Ravens outside shooting. Different story the second time around. The perimeter defense by Boschee', Paige Boyer, Katie Kindle, Katie Hayes and Bri Watts took away the outside shot and Riverside was a totally different team as a result. On the interior, Hannah Fralick was once again solid, getting quick fouls at the two meter further frustrate the Ravens. Once Puyallup shut Riverside down defensively, it opened the floodgates offensively. Kindle broke out of a scoring slump and poured in three goals in the second quarter, while Boyer added one. In the third, Carroll added three and Sam Evans popped in another. Alex Clark, getting her first extended playing time of the year, scored two goals from the two meter spot in the fourth frame to close out the scoring. Up next for Puyallup is a road contest with Sumner on Friday at 3:15