Todd Beamer High School’s boys soccer team was just a single point shy of winning the 3A NPSL last season, ending the year with 20 points. Kent-Meridian won the league with 21, and Auburn Mountainview went to the 3A final four and finished third. It’s safe to say the Titans were rolling a season ago.

This season has been the complete opposite and the postseason dream is fading fast after a 2-1 loss to Enumclaw on April 23. Enumclaw’s Nery Ruiz scored the game-winning goal on the final kick of the game to steal all three points from Todd Beamer.

“I think we were unlucky not to get the win tonight. Both teams looked pretty good. It could have gone one way or the other,” said Titans Manager Troy Peterson.

Through 12 games, Todd Beamer has just 10 points and sits in seventh place with four games remaining. Wins have been hard to come by, but after an 8-1 win over Thomas Jefferson (April 18) and a 2-1 win over second place Kent-Meridian (April 21), momentum looked to be building.

“We were looking forward to this game. We were thinking it could turn our season around,” senior Juan Lopez-Guillen said.

Even once the game started against Enumclaw, it appeared that Todd Beamer was going to take three points and jolt themselves into the playoff picture. In the 22nd minute, junior Bogdan Gozhiy used his left foot, as he has all season, to put the ball in the back of the net. Last season, his benchmark was to score a single goal, and he had 10. This year he’s the leading scorer and possibly a first team all-league player.

“He’s incredible. I coached his older brother so we kind of knew he was coming, but he’s so fun to watch. That left foot is incredible,” Peterson said.

Todd Beamer didn’t allow a single Enumclaw shot on target in the first half. Sophomore David Lvutin was brought up from junior varsity and played nearly the entire game. His work rate was extremely high and he fit right in with the Titans “A” squad.

“He’s earned it. He’s played really well on JV. Every day at practice he works hard. He’s the captain of the JV team. I tell guys every year that if you earn a spot on the field, we will give you the opportunity. He’s one of the guys this year that has earned it,” Peterson said.

Enumclaw may not have played well in the first half, but in the second half, they bookended the final 40 minutes with game-changing goals.

Captain Landon Breidenbach beat Titan goalkeeper Conner Hintz in the 43rd minute.

Todd Beamer didn’t falter despite the early goal in the second half. There were countless opportunities including Adrian Alonso having a chance at a point blank goal and even an own goal that almost snuck in to give the Titans the lead.

But as the clock was stopped with two minutes remaining, the sides appeared that they were going to both leave with a point. It was a much-needed point for Todd Beamer, but Nery Ruiz had other ideas.

Ruiz is one of the most passionate players on the pitch and as the whistle was approaching the referee’s mouth, he sent a shot near post for the game-winning goal — a gut punch for all Todd Beamer players, coaches and fans.

“It does sting. I feel like we played way better than the other team. We had more control of the ball. It was mistakes that hurt us,” Lopez-Guillen said.

There is some hope for the Titans as the first time they met with the Hornets, they fell 5-2 at Pete’s Pool all the way back on March 25. There has been significant improvement that just hasn’t shown up in the win column.

“It’s been a long season. High school soccer is always tough, but the will to compete and in the second half of the season are really bought in,” Peterson said.

The Titans’ last four games are against Federal Way, Kentlake, Decatur and Auburn Mountainview. The Titans are eight points behind the Eagles and need some help to find some life in the postseason.

Todd Beamer looks to keep its season alive and takes on Federal Way on April 26 at home with an early noon kickoff.

Adrian Alonso takes a shot against Enumclaw for Todd Beamer. Ben Ray / The Mirror

After having a bloody nose, Titan junior Bogdan Gozhiy scores a goal. Ben Ray / The Mirror