Bears claim district

The shot came – like a bolt from the blue.

And with it Central Valley qualified for state by winning its first District 8 4A soccer championship, 1-0 over first-time finalist Mt. Spokane.

The Wildcats get a second crack on Tuesday. They will play at home, 5 p.m. against Mead for the GSL’s second state berth. The Panthers eliminated Ferris 2-1 in a shootout that preceded the title match.

With the Bears-Wildcats match in its 71st minute, Columbia Blue-clad midfielder Jesse Dunbar took a crossing pass from Jay Vela for the goal that came so suddenly that stunned Wildcats goal keeper Jeff Srock didn’t react.

Neither did the large and rowdy crowd which sat silent for several moments before comprehending what had happened.

“It was a great ball,” said CV coach Brandon Deyarmin of Dunbar’s title winner. “No one in the stands knew. I think it was the angle going in. I remember jumping up and turning around, and it took a good two or three seconds for the crowd to realize it.”

Dunbar had spent most of the season assisting his teammates – he was the league leader – including prolific scorer Vela. This time it was Vela’s turn to return the favor and it was, in part, the product of a strategy Deyarmin employed for this contest.

“Even though we beat them before, we got beat in the midfield,” he said. “I talked to the coaches and said we had to do something different.”

The Bears went to a five midfielder set, with Vela in the middle, and rotated three players up front.

CV’s strategy enabled them to control tempo game-long. Even though neither team was able to sustain multiple passes in what turned out to be a physical contest, the Bears proved to be a little more proficient at it.

Late in the match, CV brought Derek Phillips into the middle and moved Vela up front where his pass to Dunbar produced paydirt.

“I was in there, Jay just crossed in the middle and I just took a shot at the goal,” said Dunbar. “I tried hitting that post and it went in. One perfect ball by Jay and it’s a goal.”

Both Srock and his CV keeper counterpart Ryan Skay were kept busy as the teams went up and down the field in an entertaining contest that remained scoreless until less than 10 minutes remained.

They handled multiple attempts, coming out of goal to chase down loose balls – one a gutsy smother by Skay early in the match or else Nick Reilly would have had clear sailing – and kicked them out of harm’s way.

Midway through the second half, Mt. Spokane scoring leader Keith Kirsch lasered a shot off the cross bar.

But CV’s defensive strategy, to keep the ball away from Kirsch and keep it on the ground to neutralize the Wildcats’ size, speed and strength, for the most part worked.

As the game wore on, Dunbar became more and more a presence, controlling the ball and giving the Bears their shot at the title.

“He really picked it up this game out of any this year,” said Deyarmin. “He’s a very smart, very skilled central midfielder who’s always there.”

Last week CV lost to Mead 3-1 and Deyarmin figured the Bears would be third and in the loser-out portion of district. Instead, they got a break when Ferris lost and put them into the title match.

“The way we were playing then, I was nervous playing loser out,” he said. “I really think by taking the No. 2 seed and having a week to prepare, the guys were really focused. We had our best four days of practice all year.”

The reward is a first boys soccer plaque on the Central Valley gymnasium wall and the luxury of a home match next Saturday in the state tournament.

Mead 2, Ferris 1 (shootout)

The contest came to its dramatic conclusion when Ferris sophomore Trevor Cain hooked his penalty shot to the left of goal giving Mead a 5-4 shootout advantage.

The Saxons had scored initially, three minutes into their loser-out district match, Eric Burke converting off a corner kick by Cody Taff.

They nursed the lead into the second half where Brian Underhill tied it on an assist by Aaron Malmoe.

That’s how it stood through the remaining 36 minutes of regulation and two five minute sudden death overtimes.

Ferris, going second in the shootout, took a 2-1 lead before Jason Gass made a save on Taff enabling the Panthers to go up 3-2 as Ian Matson snuck a shot by Saxon D.J. Bray.

The teams traded goals thereafter, sixth-shooter Kyle Wilson getting the winner.

Mead has won nine of its last 10 matches heading into the state qualifying contest at Mt. Spokane.