For the Reporter

Hazen and Kentlake traded goals in the first half before the Highlanders scored twice after the break for a 4-2 win Tuesday.

Three minutes into the match Kentlake scored off a corner kick. Hazen got even 20 minutes later when Eric Bunnell scored on an assist from Kale Soares. Kentlake took back the lead with 13 minutes left in the half on a Hazen own goal.

Hazen Coach Ken Matthews likes a fast paced passing moving game. “I feel like we have a quick team that can play that game well. Obviously, the way we’ve been scoring, the own goal was a worry,” he said. “But the hard work we were doing at the pace we were playing paid off tonight.”

Thirty seconds after the potential disaster, Bunnell got his second of the night with an assist from Takoda Zuehlke.

Coming out of the break, Hazen’s defense had steadied, and their offense was just hitting stride. Gabe Brown scored nine minutes into the 2nd to put Hazen on top. The assist came from Bunnell; who wasn’t quite finished for the night. His hat trick came on an unassisted goal with 18 minutes left.

“Now that I’ve had time to think the game through, I’m happy for the win – of course. But giving up an own goal and us missing a PK are the things that make the difference over the course of the season,” Matthews said. “And in the playoffs, they are deadly.”

Eric Bunnell was named Man of the Match.

The Highlanders travel to Maple Valley next to face the Tahoma Bears at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 22.