Perfection eluded the Kentwood girls soccer team last Thursday night.

Another top-notch defensive performance and a league championship did not.

Courtney Johnson and Megan Walburn combined for their 12th consecutive shutout, but it was in a 0-0 South Puget Sound League North Division tie against rival Tahoma at French Field.

Despite the deadlock, third-ranked Kentwood sealed its second straight North Division title as it, at the time, moved an insurmountable 12 points ahead of Tahoma and Auburn Riverside, which were tied for second place at the end of last week.

The top four teams from the North advance to the SPSL playoffs, which begin Nov. 5. Along with Kentwood, Auburn Riverside (8-2-5, 29 points) and Tahoma (8-3-4, 28 points) also have a playoff berth in hand. The Bears had a chance to nab the No. 2 seed with a win last night (results unavailable at press time) and either a tie or a loss from Auburn Riverside, which closed out the season against Kentlake.

Winning the title courtesy the tie gives the Conquerors an automatic berth to the West Central District playoffs, which are set for Nov. 8.

The tie against Tahoma proved bittersweet, Kentwood coach Aaron Radford conceded.

“It’s not as exciting or thrilling as winning it,” said Radford, whose team also has won three of the last four North Division titles. “It was an exciting game. We were pushing forward. We had very dangerous chances in the final 10 minutes; we just couldn’t find the net.”

Nor could the Bears, who were limited to just four shots all night, two of which were well off the mark.

Kentwood’s run of shutouts, however, ended Saturday in a 3-1 win over Kentlake. Kentlake freshman Laura Rayfield netted the Falcons’ lone goal, the only score Kentwood has allowed since Sept. 9.

“She picked it up right out of the air with a right-foot volley from the 6-yard line,” Radford said. “It was a really good goal.”

Auburn Riverside continued to put pressure on the Kentwood defense Tuesday night, handing the Conquerors their second tie in three games, 2-2. With two ties and the win, Kentwood improved to 13-0-2 with 41 points in league play. The success is a credit to the team’s stingy goalkeepers, but also to the four girls — defenders Dana Wareham, Rachel Bindl, Cari Witruk and Andrea Jensen — in front of them. A group that has helped the Conquerors outscore their North Division opponents 40-4 heading into tonight’s season finale against Kent-Meridian.