The Eastmont and Wahluke boys soccer teams have followed a similar pattern to this week’s final four.

For the Wildcats, seeded seventh in Class 4A and meeting No. 11 Lincoln of Seattle at noon Friday at Puyallup’s Sparks Stadium, that means CBBN Offensive Player of the Year Aaron Leon as the catalyst.

In the 1A tournament, the 16th-seeded Warriors will take on No. 12 Meridian at 7 p.m. to cap Friday’s action at Federal Way Memorial Stadium. Wahluke’s attack is spearheaded by two-time SCAC MVP Icker Lopez.

The teams also have hit their stride at the time, and reach the semifinals playing their best.

“Soccer is all about momentum and we definitely picked it up,” said Warriors coach Cele Lopenz, the father of Wahluke’s top player and a member of the program’s 2000 2A championship team.

Icker Lopez has 26 goals and 29 assists from his midfield position. He sets the tone on the field and away from it.

“Most of these kids, and most of those freshmen look up to Icker,” said Coach Lopez, noting that some model their habits and effort after the standout junior, who works himself to exhaustion during practice and game.

“We have a lot of guys who contribute and accept their role,” the elder Lopez said. “Instead of jealousy, we use him as a weapon and use everybody around him.”

Midfielder/striker Ethan Moreno and defender Alex Adame earned all-SCAC second-team honors and keeper Franco Perez was honorable mention.

Wahluke (17-6-2) earned the seventh and final spot from District 5, which the SCAC shares with the Caribou Trail League. They won two loser-out games to sneak into the tournament, and have three more victories in the state bracket, including a play-in to earn a spot in the round of 16.

The Warriors’ state victories included a 4-0 shocking of top-seeded and District 5 champion Cascade.

“It was a good thing for the boys to feel the pressure,” Coach Lopez said. “You can feel pressure or you can feel passion, and everybody was motivated.”

Eastmont (15-4-1) also has won five straight games while facing elimination. Motivated by a 4-1 loss to Wenatchee on May 5 – the only match in which the Wildcats lost by more than a goal – the CBBN third-place finisher has outscored its opponents 36-7 in six straight victories.

“We are ready to go,” Eastmont coach Vidal Hurtado said. “It’s been a fun couple of days, getting loose and mentally ready.”

Leon, who is headed to Seattle U, has half of the Wildcats’ 80 goals this season. But 10 other players have netted goals and 13 more have assisted on a score.

Their attack was recognized with midfielders Angel Ortega and Kyren Lasswell joining Leon on the all-CBBN first team. Giancarlo Fordero earned the honor as a defender.

“I’m grateful we have Aaron,” Hurtado said. “He knows when to take the shot and he knows when to lay it off.

“If we’re all on, we can be really fun to watch.”

CLASS 4A

No. 7 Eastmont vs. No. 11 Lincoln

TIME AND DAY, SITE: Noon Friday, Sparks Stadium at Puyallup.

OVERALL RECORD (CONFERENCE), RPI: Eastmont 15-4-1 (8-4 CBBN), 7; Lincoln 16-6-2 (9-3-2 Metro), 17.

UP NEXT: Winner meets the winner of No. 8 Sumner and No. 5 Newport in the championship at 4 p.m. Saturday. The losers will meet at 10 a.m. for third and fourth place.

CLASS 1A

No. 16 Wahluke vs. No. 12 Meridian

TIME AND DAY, SITE: 7 p.m. Friday, Federal Way Memorial Stadium.

OVERALL RECORD (CONFERENCE), RPI: Wahluke 16-6-1 (9-3 SCAC), 14; Meridian 13-4-3 (9-4-2 Northwest Conference), 15.

UP NEXT: Winner meets the winner of No. 6 Cedar Park Christian and No. 2 Vashon Island in the championship at 5 p.m. Saturday. The losers will meet at 10 a.m. for third and fourth place.