Boys Soccer: Bobcats complete the mission finish undefeated and EVCO 2A League Champs

5/2/2023

Aberdeen 2, Centralia 0

(Centralia, WA) The Aberdeen Bobcats came into the final match of the regular season undefeated, the #2 RPI team in the state and League Champs. The Bobcats were still motivated to stay unbeaten and sharp heading into the district tournament on Saturday.

Meantime, the Centralia Tigers were looking to get into post season for the 1st time in 5 years under new head coach Noel Vazquez. The Tigers needed to beat Aberdeen and Black Hills needed to lose and Centralia would claim 4th place and send themselves to a pigtail with the 5th place team in the GSHL for a chance to get into the final 8 of the district tournament. If both teams win or lose they will then play each other on Wednesday night at Black Hills and then the winner will get to host the pigtail game on Thursday night. The winner of the pigtail game will then travel to Vancouver on Saturday to play the #1 RPI team in the opening round of districts. But districts is a double elimination.

As the match began the Centralia Tigers put on a ton of offensive pressure on the defense of Aberdeen led by Leo Perez, Miles Page and Darell Nuerert as they tried to challenge the Bobcats back-up keeper Jazir Arenal who got the start. Arenal held up with assistance from a solid backline of Isaiah Johnson, Julian Garcia, Javier Garcia and Hugo Garcia as they denied the Tigers time and again.

Centralia has been a solid defensive team all year and their backline and mids were especially effective in the 1st half. Alan Cox, Simba Osman, Luis Noel Orellano and Allan Ozbourne along with keeper Carlos Hernandez frustrated the Aberdeen offense time and again.

The Bobcats did not allow that frustration to take away from their focus and in the 18th minute was able to break through as the ball ping ponged around in front of the goal and Gio Castillo got a foot on it to knock it in for a 1st half 1-0 lead. The two sides had plenty of other chances but it would go to halftime with the undefeated Bobcats leading 1-0.

As the 2nd half began it was Aberdeen who seized control and never really let go as there attack after attack kept the Tiger defense on their heels and despite a hearty effort the Tigers would give up a 2nd goal in the 67th minute when Elmer Torres finished off a run to give the Bobcats a little breathing space with a 2-0 lead and knowing Centralia’s strength is not scoring a bunch of goals gave them that separation that would be hard to bridge.

In fact, Centralia would not make that run and it was the Aberdeen defense that pitched the shut out. Senior keeper Antonio Granados came on in the 2nd half to finish off the shut out.

The Thorbeckes MVP’s were awarded to Aberdeen’s Elmer Torres and Centralia’s Kilmer Alverto.

Aberdeen finished the regular season 12-0 in league play and 15-0 overall. Centralia ended up 5-7 and 7-8 and in 5th place as Black Hills knocked off Shelton 2-1 to clinch 4th place. Meantime, WF West held off Shelton to clinch 2nd place and a chance to host the opening round of districts while Tumwater will be 3rd.

Aberdeen appears they will host Hudson’s Bay on Saturday, WF West at this time would host R A Long, Tumwater would travel to Hockinson and Columbia River will host the winner of the pigtail game between Black Hills and either Fort Vancouver or Woodland.The Wolves will host that pigtail game on Thursday.