Herald staff
LAKEWOOD – The Lakewood boy’s soccer team used a stingy defense Saturday afternoon to defeat Blaine 2-0 and setup a rubber match showdown with No. 1 seeded Meridian in the next round of the Northwest District playoffs.
Goalkeepers Ryan Clifton and Matt Mattson recorded the shutout for the Cougars, but it was really Lakewood’s defense that shut down the Borderites. Lakewood defenders held Blaine to only two shots on goal all game.
“Our defense has been great lately and tonight they played really well,” said Lakewood coach Steve Hoffman.
Hoffman declined to single out specific defenders, saying it was the whole defense that stepped up Saturday.
“They played as a team out there and just shut (Blaine) down,” Hoffman said.
Lakewood scored both of its goals in the first half. The first by Bryce Barker came in the 20th minute. Scott Roberts knocked in the Cougars’ second goal 10 minutes later.
With the victory, Lakewood (12-5 overall) moves onto face Meridian (15-1) on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Meridian High School. Blaine (9-8) is eliminated from the playoffs.
Tuesday’s match between the Cougars and Meridian will be intriguing. Lakewood handed Meridian its only loss of the year in both team’s first game of the season. Meridian then responded by defeating Lakewood in their next meeting.
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