Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Vela the difference as CV blanks Wenatchee

Steve Christilaw Correspondent

The Central Valley Bears went into intermission of their first-round State 4A boys soccer playoff game in a scoreless tie with the visiting Wenatchee Panthers.

And then Jay Vela took over.

The CV junior set up the match-winning goal a half minute into the second 40-minute session, then added three more insurance goals as the Bears advanced to play Pasco in a quarterfinal-round playoff game Saturday in Pasco.

“I never in my life would have thought a game in the round of 16 would be won 4-0,” CV coach Brandon Deyarmin said. “There were some jitters. Being in the round of 16 is a first for the school, let alone making it to the round of eight.”

If the Bears (14-4) had played in tear-away jerseys, Vela would have had the Bears comfortably ahead by the 30-minute mark of the first half.

The speedy forward found maneuvering room in the offensive zone through most of the game and Panthers defenders looked for every advantage they could find early, grabbing handfuls of Vela’s game shirt to rein in breakaways.

The strategy got Wenatchee in trouble with the referee, who issued two yellow cards and a red card in the first half – the latter ejecting defender Miguel Morales, who kicked a CV midfielder in the back while he was on the ground.

By the time the second half started, the Bears found their rhythm and took control of the match.

Wenatchee tried a long pass to a streaking forward to open the final period, but the Bears broke it up and fed the ball to Vela at the midfield stripe.

Vela dribbled through the middle of the Wenatchee defense, driving to the left as he raced to the baseline, then fired a hard cross that senior Blake Trimmer powered past the Panthers’ goalkeeper with his head.

“That couldn’t happen to a nicer guy,” Deyarmin said. “Blake has had so many opportunities to score. It’s great to see him get that chance.”

“Me and Blake have teamed up so often in the last couple years,” Vela said. “Only it’s usually him feeding the ball to me. I’m so happy for him.”

The quick-strike goal put the Bears in rhythm, and Vela’s next three goals were like the cymbal crash on a long drum solo.

“I guess you could say that was my best half,” Vela said. “Three goals and an assist? That doesn’t happen very often.”

The victory sets up a rematch with Pasco, a 2-0 winner over the Bears in March at Pasco.

“Pasco plays a lot like Wenatchee,” Deyarmin said. “I was surprised that Wenatchee beat Pasco twice during the regular season. But Pasco won when it counted to win the district championship.

“They play the same kind of game that Wenatchee plays, only they’re a little bit bigger and a little bit faster.”

Saturday will be only the second time the Bears have played a match on artificial turf.

Pasco 2, Mt. Spokane 1

The Bulldogs (13-2) staked visiting Mt. Spokane to a 1-0 lead on Keith Kirsch’s goal, then stormed back to earn the first-round playoff victory and remain undefeated at Edgar Brown Stadium. Midfielder Julio Morales was fouled in the penalty box in the 25th minute and Shayne Kelly scored on the resulting penalty kick to even the score. Morales then added the game-winner, his 20th goal of the season, with 2 minutes left in the first half when Rocky Snyder headed in a crossing pass off Kelly’s throw-in. The Wildcats finished 14-4.