Woodland sophomore Jesse Thrall (right) and Columbia River junior Jackson Kleier fight for possession during the 2A District Soccer Championship at Columbia River High School May 9.
Woodland sophomore Axel Varela-Sanchez tracks down a Columbia River player during the 2A District Soccer Championship at Columbia River High School May 9.
(Right) Woodland senior Owen Terhorst (left) and Columbia River sophomore Ian Hahn track a ball through the air during the 2A District Soccer Championship at Columbia River High School May 9.
Woodland boys soccer (8-3-0 league, 12-4-2 overall) fell 3-0 to undefeated defending 2A state champions Columbia River (12-0-0 league, 18-0-1 overall) in the 2A District Soccer Championship Thursday night on the Chieftains’ home pitch. The Beavers advanced to the finals after a 3-2 victory at home against Tumwater earlier this week.
The parking lot was filled as fans from both teams gathered at Columbia River High School to cheer on their team on the sunny Thursday evening. Chanting could be heard from both teams as they broke huddle for the start of the game at 7 p.m.
Woodland’s defense started strong, holding the Chieftains to one goal during the first half.
“For 30 minutes we kept them out of the back of the net,” Woodland coach Bryan Vogel said. “It was a good team effort.”
The Beavers kept the score 1-0 for most of the second half, but the Chieftains found the back of the net twice with less than 13 minutes left — one during active play and another from a penalty kick — and held the Beavers scoreless, making it the third loss against Columbia River this season.
“(Going into) this half we were down 1-0. Whether it was 1-0 or 3-0 it’s still a loss so we tried the last 15-20 minutes to push guys and that opens things up a little bit more too,” Vogel said. “We could’ve sat in and held it 1-0 but you gotta go for it in the district championship game.”
Despite last night’s loss, the Beavers are still preparing for a run at state over the next two weeks.
Coach Vogel said the team needs to get “a little more improvement off the ball” and “preventing the switch of play and getting better pressure.”
Woodland will play Sequim in the first round of the state championship on 6 p.m. May 15 at Peninsula College in Port Angeles.
Spudders still alive
The Ridgefield boys soccer team (6-6-0 league, 9-10-0 overall) is still fighting for their chance at state. Winning 3-0 over Tumwater last night, the Spudders will face off against Aberdeen on Saturday for third place and a chance at state. The game will be at 7 p.m. at Ridgefield High School, 2630 S Hillhurst Road, Ridgefield.
