Hazen Earns First Victory With New Coach

The Hazen Highlanders held off the Renton Indians in a 3-1 win Tuesday. The Highlanders (5-3-2 Overall, 5-1-2 Seamount) completed the sweep over the Renton high schools, while the Indians (0-6) are still looking for their first win in a rebuilding season. The win allowed Hazen to tie Kennedy in wins and to get within one point of tying for first place.

The first goal came from Hazen’s Jonathan Bettencourt in the 7th minute after his corner-kick. Samuel Bunnell followed with a penalty kick goal directed against Renton’s Goalkeeper Alexiz Quintana in the 44th minute. The Highlanders’ final goal came a minute later from Alan Montes.

“A win for us in every game is crucial,” said Highlanders Head Coach Ken Matthews. “It helps us prepare to get to the playoffs.”

Indians’ player Vladimir Hernandez was credited with a goal in the final 3 minutes after a miscommunication between a Hazen defender and the Goalkeeper Freddie Jeronimo, denying the shutout.

“It was a little sloppy at the end,” said Matthews. “It’s okay to be sloppy when you’re ahead 3-nothing.”

Renton’s Head Coach Duane Nakamura stated that Hazen’s goals resulted from defensive breakdowns.

"First goal for Hazen was a result of slow reaction to a short corner kick,” said Nakamura in an email statement. “Third goal resulted from just poor defending.”

Renton was able to prevent the Highlanders from scoring more
goals through blocks and clean-ups. Quintana took a block to the body after a Montes kick before being replaced by Christian Plancarte in the 50th minute. Nakamura said he made the move after Plancarte suffered a minor injury and felt it would be easier to play goalkeeper rather than on the field.

Matthews said the Highlanders had a fire lit up under them since the coaching change.

“Sometimes when you get new ideas and new thoughts you can get excited, which is hard to keep that excitement the whole season.”

Upcoming Games

Friday, April 15, 2011

Lindbergh @ Renton – 6 p.m. @ Renton Memorial Stadium

Hazen @ Foster – 6 p.m. @ Neudorf Memorial Stadium