State champ Wahluke wins twice, returns to final four
Eugenio Cruz of Wahluke prepares to boot the first goal of a state 1A quarterfinal soccer match at Wahluke on Saturday. His effort was made possible by a high arching pass by Antonio Ramos (17) over the defense.
WAHLUKE - It's been said that the champ is the champ until someone takes the title away.
Wahluke is still soccer champ of the state's class 1A high schools after a 3-0 state quarterfinal win over Cascade Saturday at Wahluke. The Warriors need to win just two more matches, this weekend at Sumner, to retain their title.
Wahluke will start the final stretch toward what could be its fifth state championship on Friday. The Warriors will face Royal at 4 p.m. If they win, they go on to the title game at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Wahluke has faced Royal three times this year and has won all three matches by one goal. Still, coach Arthur de Victoria is wary.
"Anything can happen," he said. "That's why we play."
De Victoria complimented Royal on its fine season. He also lauded Warden, which made it to the quarterfinals before falling to Royal.
"I think it's great to have three of the top eight teams in the state all from the same area," de Victoria said.
The Kodiaks were expecting a good opponent on Saturday. It's doubtful they expected the well-oiled machine they encountered.
Cascade came out charging and tried to slug it out with Wahluke. But after 10 minutes of impenetrable Warrior defense, the Kodiak attack waned.
Meanwhile the slick passing of the Wahluke offense started to find faults in the Cascade defense. Every time it seemed the Kodiaks were forcing a pass, the ball ended up with a well-positioned Warrior.
The slickest pass of the day came in the 11th minute when Antonio Ramos flew the ball over the defense and landed it just in front of the speeding Eugenio Cruz.
Cruz caught up to the ball before the Cascade keeper could make a play and bounced it into the right lower corner of the netting. That made the score, 3-0, and loosed a cascade of Warrior offense the rest of the half.
The second goal, by Mendoza, came on a penalty kick at the 32nd minute. The third goal, also by Mendoza, came in the 40th minute off an assist by Juan Erazo.
Most of that play was Erazo's. He out-battled the tender for a loose ball and passed it to the wide-open Mendoza.
Earlier in the week, Wahluke defeated Okanogan, 2-1, at Wahluke to advance to the quarterfinals. The Warriors posted a 2-0 lead before half-time and then played to stop Okanogan.
"Defense is a focus of ours," de Victoria said. "You can score 20 goals, but if you can't keep 21 out, you lose."
Okanogan put up a good fight. Wahluke did not score until the 27th minute, when George Lopez drove the ball home.
Lopez was in the 18-meter box when Cruz fired a shot that rebounded off an Okanogan defender to Lopez. Lopez reacted quickly and put the ball in the goal.
The second goal came in the 43rd minute. A shot by Alfredo Manzo rebounded off the post, and Cruz caught the loose ball and fired it home.
Okanogan took 17 shots, but most were not on goal. Wahluke tender Cesar Tlatelpa was required for only three saves.
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