SAN BRUNO, CA - The King's Academy girls' soccer team, scoring four of its goals in the last few minutes of each half, defeated Capuchino 5-1 Thursday at Carl Reyna Field.
The Knights' victory came in a CCS Division III playoff opener.
Allie Silkwood scored two of the Knights' first three goals, including a shot into the left side of the goal at the 39-minute mark that made it 3-0.
"It's my senior year and we're just working hard to try to make the finals," Silkwood said. "I think we're starting to come together as a team."
Silkwood's goal at the 10-minute mark broke open a 0-0 tie. The Knights totally dominated the first half, with Capuchino only managing one good chance that was steered right of the goal.
In the 39th minute the Knights' Reilly Cole made it 2-0 when she lofted a long shot over the goalkeeper's head.
Less than a minute later, Silkwood added her second goal for what seemed like an insurmountable 3-0 lead.
"I'm proud of them," Knights' coach Shami Benjamin said. "It's the playoffs and anything can happen and we came in with the mindset to work hard and play strong."
Capuchino didn't blink. Siena Martinucci in the 43rd minute left-footed one into the goal to give the Mustangs hope. There was plenty of time left and another goal would have vaulted Cap back into contention, but it never came.
"It was hard," Cap coach Richard Medina said. "We're a C Division team and some of the teams we've played have been weak. We're not used to dealing with players like No. 6 (Silkwood). She was really good. We knew we had to be aware of her and started putting two players on her in the second half."
Hailey Cole connected for the Knights in the 77th minute when she scored into an open goal and Jessica Oyenuga pounded in a shot off a rebound in stoppage time to close out the scoring.
Jett Hayward played well in the midfield for TKA.
There's hope moving forward for Cap (12-6-2) which has more freshmen (five) on its roster than seniors (four). The Mustangs tied for first place in the PAL-Ocean.
The Knights (7-7-2) will meet Santa Cruz in Saturday's quarterfinals at a time and site to be announced.
