Despite a 2-0 loss to Kennedy Catholic on Saturday, Hazen Highlanders soccer coach Ken Matthews said his team is continuing its “upward trend” just as they get ready for the postseason.

Despite a tough opening run to the 2014 season that put the Highlanders into a hole, the team battled back through the season and on Saturday found itself playing for a share of the Seamount League title and a shot at the no. 1 seed for the bi-district playoffs.

“It didn’t happen; so what?” Matthews said in an email. “We’re in the playoffs and I think we can make some noise there.”

Matthews cited a difficult schedule, which included top-ranked teams around Washington and out-of-state, and said he was proud of his team for getting to a position to play for their third straight championship.

“We are a much better team tonight then we were Sept. 6 in Idaho,” he said, citing the team’s opening game.

Hazen wraps up the season Tuesday at Tyee and will play in the postseason.