Tomahawks lean on GK Bluhm to beat Gig Harbor

Published 11:20 pm Tuesday, May 19, 2009

LAKE STEVENS — Midway through the first half Kyle Bluhm laid motionless, flat on his back, having been knocked for a loop by an opponent’s foot.

Flash forward to the game’s conclusion and once again Bluhm found himself on his back, but this time it was underneath a dogpile of celebrating teammates.

The Marysville-Pilchuck High School goalkeeper overcame nearly being KO’d, making two big saves during penalty kicks, and the Tomahawks defeated the Gig Harbor Tides 2-1 Tuesday night in the first round of the Class 4A boys soccer playoffs.

Thanks in large part to Bluhm the Tides converted just one of their four penalty kicks during the tiebreaker. Meanwhile, the Tomahawks coolly converted all three of their attempts to earn the first-ever state playoff victory in school history.

“My adrenaline is pumping right now,” Bluhm said. “At the bottom of that pile after the game I was just smiling, just closing my eyes and feeling the moment.”

Elwood Sevon scored the goal in regulation for Marysville-Pilchuck (17-0-2), which faces Issaquah in the quarterfinals. That game is at 1 p.m. Saturday back at Lake Stevens High School.

Robby Ubban scored for Gig Harbor, which finished its season 12-6-2.

In a game that was tense and hard-fought from beginning to end, it was high drama right to the final kick.

Bluhm nearly didn’t make it to that moment. In the 17th minute he dived for a ball in the penalty box and Gig Harbor’s David Olson followed through on the ball, catching Bluhm square in the face. Bluhm rolled onto his back and was motionless on the turf for several moments before walking off woozy, replaced by freshman Ian Beagle.

“I just had to take a break,” explained Bluhm, who said he never lost consciousness. “It hurt and I just kind of laid down, took a rest for a little bit.”

Gig Harbor scored with Bluhm on the sidelines and it looked like the Tomahawks, who were visibly shaken after Bluhm’s departure, might have to endure without their mammoth sophomore shot stopper.

But Bluhm was examined by trainer Tim McTee to make sure he didn’t have a concussion, then returned for the start of the second half. He showed no ill effects from his knock and was therefore available to be the difference maker during penalty kicks.

Bluhm got Marysville-Pilchuck off to a perfect start in the tiebreaker, standing up strong to deny Olson’s powerful drive.

Seth Jones and John Crenshaw scored as the Tomahawks went ahead 2-1, then Bluhm was at it again, saving Roger Blancarte’s shot. When Brady Ballew put the Tomahawks up 3-1 it was just a matter of time before it was over, and it ended on the next kick when Ryan Lucus hit the crossbar.

“That was huge,” Marysville-Pilchuck coach Geoff Kittle said of Bluhm’s gutsy performance. “Kyle has gotten more confident every game. He just keeps getting better and better and better. He’s come up huge the last couple games when we’ve needed him, and that’s going to happen more as we get later into this and get more pressure on our goal. Man, he’s stepped it up big time.”

Tuesday’s contest was a difficult one for the Tomahawks, who first had to deal with driving rain, then had to endure a physical Gig Harbor team that refused to give an inch.

Nevertheless, the Tomahawks opened the scoring in the 13th minute. A Marysville-Pilchuck corner kick was cleared only as far as Sevon, who was stationed at the top of the penalty box. Sevon dug his shot out and put it into the corner from 25 yards out, giving the Tomahawks a 1-0 lead.

However, the Tomahawks lost Bluhm less than five minute later, and with Bluhm off the pitch, Gig Harbor struck. In the 25th minute the Tides won a free kick 40 yards out, with Jeff Gronewold lofting a cross to the far post. The towering Robby Ubban headed the ball goalward, and although Beagle was able to get a fingertip to it, he couldn’t keep it out. It’s possible the taller Bluhm may have made the save.

But Beagle redeemed himself with a stunning save to keep it tied going into halftime, and Bluhm returned for the second half.