The Overlake School boys’ soccer team is one win away from the Class 1A state title game.
Owls scoring sensation Jesse Klug posted his third straight hat trick in a 4-1 win against Vashon Island in a state quarterfinal matchup Saturday at Redmond High School.
Klug got the Owls off to a good start with a goal off an assist from senior Gavin Mackinlay in the seventh minute. Klug scored two more in an eight-minute span as Overlake built a 3-0 lead in the 25th minute.
Mackinlay capped the scoring for the Owls with a goal in the 71st minute on a pass from Klug. Overlake’s Dean Poplawski had two assists in the win against Vashon Island.
In two state playoff games, the Owls have outscored their opponents, 13-1.
Overlake (17-0-1) has a tough task next with a semifinal matchup against undefeated Ridgefield (17-0-0) at 2 p.m. Friday at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner. Ridgefield handled Seattle Academy, 3-1, in its semifinal win. If the Owls beat Ridgefield, they will play the winner of the Chelan-Royal semifinal game in the championship game Saturday at 2 p.m. at Sunset Chev Stadium. If the Owls fall to Ridgefield, they will play at 10 a.m. Saturday for third place.
Ridgefield will have their hands full containing Klug, a Seattle Sounders Academy player who has scored a school-record 38 goals and a team-high 15 assists this season.
In five games this month, Klug has scored 13 goals.
Overlake coach Bob Bristol said the key is how well Klug “plays with his teammates.”
“He is really starting to show great leadership in practice,” Bristol said. “He’s just a great member of the team.”
For Class 1A state soccer matchups, click here.