There wasn't much to say after this one. I mean, you could say something happened, but it wouldn't be saying much as far as a barometer of just how good the Todd Beamer Titans boys soccer team is. The measuring stick was last-place Spanaway Lake, whom Beamer stupefied, 13-0, at Federal Way Memorial Friday.

Now 13-0 says a lot, kind of. Facts state that no other team in the South Puget Sound League South has scored that many goals against SL and that includes some 11-0 and 10-0 blastings from others in the league, like league-leading Puyallup did in their two games against SL.

But about everyone else has scored a bunch, too and it's hard to argue with SL's goal-for, goal-against mark...one goal for, 113 against.

"Yeah, wasn't too close a game," said Jordan Hale, the senior captain who was second on the Titans to get a hattrick (three goals in one game) in this one. And he's the team's sweeper! He was second to freshman forward Ugo Okali. Okali's third goal came three minutes into the second half to make it 8-0, but Hale took until the 16th minute of the second half to score his third.

But was that really what this game was about -- seeing who could hattrick first?

"Yeah," said Hale, taken aback, perhaps, by the question, for a second, anyway, before quickly answering, "We try not to be ball hogs, not being greedy, just pass it around, and, whatever happens....'

One can probably guess what word Hale said next.

"Happens".

This Titans team happens to have lost six seniors off last year's team, a team that lost to Federal Way in the quarterfinals of the 4A state tournament the year before that, made the playoffs the year before that, and won the SPSL the year before that. So, that nucleus is gone. And, like was said earier, this team may have beat Spanaway Lake but this Titans team has lost a lot in those seniors that took these guys to the playoffs three straight years.

"We're not doing as well as I thought we would," said Titans head coach Adam Kulaas, smirking a little facial expression.

Smirking?

Well, yeah, because he was also doing what Clay Bennett (Sonics owner) has come to do so well now Seattle and vicinity is finding out. Kulaas was lying. OK, for Bennett, it is lying, but for Kulaas, well, it was something else as the smirk said. Kulaas was kidding.

For The Titans are in third place in the SPSL South, Puyallup leads with a 10-0-2 record, Curtis, second, 10-2-0, and, Beamer, third, 7-3-2.

"It's been fun," said Kulaas, who admitted that he grew close to those six departed seniors that led Beamer to prominence in their league.

"Yeah," said Kulaas, staring off a little into space on that one, pausing, saying, "But it's been great to see the other returners (that were not seniors) stepping into that leadership role."

The leadership of this team, don't kid yourself on this one, but it's led by the coach, and his staff. Kulaas leads things but Brett Lucas(sensational himself head coaching the Titans wrestling team to a top squad every year) has been with him every year he's coached-five years now- and Joel Linberg is right there adding to that chemistry too.

What do your coach(s) do for you?

Hale, a junior, captain, answered that one, easily.

"Really just been there on and off the field for us," said Hale. 'The main focus of the team is chemistry. We do things together as a team. What happens off the field as a team we want to happen on the field as a team."

The team is led by Daniel Nam, a senor and captain like Hale, along with thid captain, John Drayer. Nam leads the team in goals with 14, and in assists with 13. Okali, Nam's running-mate up front, shows promise, according to Kulaas, though a freshman. Hale is in the back, the very back. He has helped the Titans have a strong defense.

"He's our sweeper," said Kulaas of Hale. "He's stepped it up."

Even though that position might not be the shoes Hale has wanted to step into, he has done it for the team.

"It's probably not his desired position, but he is doing what needs to be done," said Kulaas.

The Titans made Spanaway Lake done early, scoring six times in the first half, courtesy of blasts from Nam, Hale , Troy Peterson, Okali (2), and Zach Hoffman. In the second half, Hale scored his second goal one minute in, then, Okoli got his hattrick, then Nam, his second score, and Hale his hattrick, and Drayer, in on the scoring act, before Marlon Harrington put in a penalty kick and, Keegan Claxton topped it in with a goal off a cornerkick.

This Titans team looks like it's sequential order of doing better and better as the seasons have gone on looks in place this year, despite the six good seniors that rooted this team to success the past three years.

The Titans are in third place but they have played teams tough in their league. They have lost to Curtis 2-1 and 1-0 and first-place Puyallup was tied, 2-2, by the Titans. Those two meet the last game of the regular season on May 2. Then the playoffs...and who knows what will happen there.

Is this team going to be better than last year's team?

"Always the goal," said Kulaas.

A player, Hoffman, was walking by, and Kulaas put the same question to him.

"Of course," said Hoffman.

Whatever happens happens.