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.