Kentwood clinches North crown

Perfection eluded the Kentwood girls soccer team last Thursday night.

Another top-notch defensive performance and a league championship did not.

Courtney Johnson and Megan Walburn combined for their 12th consecutive shutout, but it was in a 0-0 South Puget Sound League North Division tie against rival Tahoma at French Field.

Despite the deadlock, third-ranked Kentwood sealed its second straight North Division title as it, at the time, moved an insurmountable 12 points ahead of Tahoma and Auburn Riverside, which were tied for second place at the end of last week.

The top four teams from the North advance to the SPSL playoffs, which begin Nov. 5. Winning the title courtesy of Thursday’s tie gives the Conquerors an automatic berth to the West Central District playoffs, which is set for Nov. 8.

The tie against Tahoma proved bittersweet, Kentwood coach Aaron Radford conceded.

“It’s not as exciting or thrilling as winning it,” said Radford, whose team also has won three of the last four North Division titles. Nor could the Bears, who Kentwood improved to 13-0-1 with 40 points. The success is a credit to the team’s stingy goalkeepers, but also to the four girls — defenders Dana Wareham, Rachel Bindl, Cari Witruk and Andrea Jensen — in front of them. A group that has allowed just two goals heading into play last night against Auburn Riverside.

Tahoma, as always, has proven to be Kentwood’s toughest challenger. The Bears dropped a 1-0 decision to the Conquerors at the end of September and kept pace with them on Thursday night. Kaila Wilkinson and Amber Woolcock combined in goal for Tahoma’s share of the shutout.

• ALSO: Kent-Meridian (0-14-0, 0 points), 8-0. Jennsyn Chaney was credited for the shutout. ... With two games remaining on the regular-season schedule heading into play last night, Kentwood, Auburn Riverside and Tahoma already had secured playoff berths. Jefferson (7-5-3, 24 points) remains on the cusp of the final berth, six points ahead of Federal Way (5-6-3, 18 points).