The No. 5 seed North Kitsap Vikings shocked the No. 1 seed Bainbridge Spartans by beating them 2-1 in penalty kicks in the 2A boys soccer state semifinals at Federal Way Memorial Stadium May 30.

This marks the Vikings’ second state title game appearance in three seasons. NK will play No. 3 seed Columbia River in the championship game May 31 at 5:30 p.m. in Federal Way, the same team they lost to in the state title game in 2023, 4-2. The Vikings have never won a state championship in boys soccer.

The Spartans will face No. 2 seed Sehome in the 3rd/4th place game May 31 at 1 p.m. in Federal Way.

It was sort of a revenge game for NK, as Bainbridge had beaten them twice in the regular season and once in the district championship. One of the Spartans’ regular-season wins over the Vikings was eventually changed to a forfeit win for NK since Bainbridge had used an ineligible player.

In the state semifinal matchup, Spartan defenseman Howard Howlett kicked off the scoring for both squads at the 29-minute mark in the first half, giving Bainbridge an early 1-0 lead. After that, neither team could amount to much of anything on offense, with both teams generating a similar number of scoring chances throughout the next ten minutes of the first half.

Spartan midfielder Cooper Harrington was able to get an up-close-and-personal shot on goal with 20 minutes remaining in the half, but NK goalkeeper Andrew Knott prevented the score from occurring.

Both teams came out in the second half with more aggression, forcing turnovers in the midfield and pursuing the ball with more intensity. Spartan Cruz Piland was assessed a yellow card at the 28-minute mark in the half, marking the first one for either squad at that point of the game.

Viking Aaron Lopez managed to put in a header goal at the 16-minute mark of the second half, breaking the scoring drought for both squads and tying the game at one apiece.

Another yellow card was assessed to Viking Ethan Peck for pushing at the ten-minute mark. The Spartans began to push the ball downfield and play prevent defense, attempting to score a last-minute goal for the win. But it was not to be, and the second half ended with the score locked at 1-1, warranting a five-minute overtime.

Viking Harper Sabari landed an up-close scoring opportunity, but couldn’t put it in the net, pushing the game into a second overtime. The Spartans began to push the ball into NK territory consistently, but neither team could get the ball to find the back of the net, sending the game to penalty kicks.

Both teams went back and forth converting PKs until the Spartans missed high on one attempt, opening the door for the Vikings to claim the win. Bryan Montes De Oca sealed the win for the NK by converting his PK.

Viking Gavin Rogers pushes the ball downfield in a 2-1 NK win over the Bainbridge Spartans in the 2A state boys soccer semifinals at Federal Way Memorial Stadium May 30.