The defending Seamount League soccer champion Hazen Highlanders are back on top of the league table after a 3-0 win Friday against Tyee.

“I tell the guys you always want to be the team everyone is chasing. Tonight they put themselves there,” said Hazen coach Ken Matthews in press release.

With the win Hazen moved two points clear of Kennedy Catholic and Tyee in the league race. In Seamount this year, each team plays the other teams twice. Wins are three points and draws are one. The team with the most points is Seamount League Champions.

“Hands down; that was the best game we’ve played. Angad (Senior Defender Angad Singh), Eddie (Senior Defender Eddie Tim), and Kyle (Junior Defender Kyle Bunnell) were incredible. We ask so much of our defenders – everyone else plays four back; we play three. They took care of business,” Matthews said after the win against Tyee.

On the offensive end, junior game captain Ryan Wong got the first goal at the 19 minute mark, assisted by sophomore mid Jorman Gonzalez. With eight minutes left in the first half, senior mid Devin Sando scored off an assist from senior season captain and forward Sam Bunnell.

Bunnell wrapped up the scoring 24 minutes into the second half with a goal of his own on an assist by senior forward Marcelo Castro.

“Tyee is a very good team. After Ryan (Wong) scored I never felt like we’d lose the game. But the way we were playing you really want the shutout,” Matthews added.

Enter senior keeper Freddy Jeronimo, filling in for the injured Jaime “Chino” Martinez. Time and again Jeronimo stood the challenge. His eleven saves were the difference and Jeronimo was named Man of the Match for his efforts.

Hazen faces off against Evergreen on Monday at Highline Stadium.