Indians fall to Wolverines

After a 5-0 loss to Evergreen on Tuesday, it was easy for Renton High soccer coach Duane Nakamura to question the consistency of his rebuilding team.

April 24, 2008 8:38 pm
Renton goalie Luis Martinez tangles with teammate Brandon Schaefer and an Evergreen player in a play that was a close call but did not result in a goal in Renton’s 5-0 loss at Highline Memorial Stadium on Tuesday.
Renton goalie Luis Martinez tangles with teammate Brandon Schaefer and an Evergreen player in a play that was a close call but did not result in a goal in Renton’s 5-0 loss at Highline Memorial Stadium on Tuesday.

Renton soccer suffering from inconsistent play

as Seamount league regular season winds down

After a 5-0 loss to Evergreen on Tuesday, it was easy for Renton High soccer coach Duane Nakamura to question the consistency of his rebuilding team.

“Sometimes we look like we’re progressing,” Nakamura said. “Other times, things fall apart.”

Nakamura summarized the game with three words, “it was ugly.”

In their second season coaching at Renton, Nakamura and co-coach Dayo Oyetuga aren’t seeing the team progress as much as they would like. Nakamura called the Indians’ play this season schizophrenic.

“For every step forward, it seems like we take a couple back,” Nakamura said.

In the first matchup between the teams on March 18, Renton played the Wolverines much closer, but Evergreen still came out on top, 2-1. In that game, Evergreen’s Kenny Albright spoiled the Indians’ night with two unassisted goals. In Tuesday’s game, Albright made an impact again with a goal and two assists.

Joshua Santiago scored two goals for Evergreen and Israel Robles scored once. Andrew Parker recorded the shutout on Tuesday.

Santiago got Evergreen on the board quickly when he scored the game’s first goal less than two minutes into the game. Hared Brunelle and Albright then followed with goals in the first half, leaving the Indians’ with a 3-0 deficit heading into the half.

Santiago and Israel Robles each scored a goal for Evergreen in the second half to push the final score to 5-0.

The Wolverines may be a bit schizophrenic themselves. After losing five of the first six games, the team has gone 2-3-1 in the past six games, including a surprising 1-1 tie of first-place Mount Rainier.

Renton was missing three starters for Tuesday’s game, leaving the team with just two subs and contributing to fatigue in the latter stages of the game.

Forging ahead, Nakamura said the Indians must continue to eliminate mistakes, be more consistent and show more overall improvement to get back on track. Renton plays Lindbergh on April 29, then concludes the season against Kennedy on May 1.