Three Camas High School boys soccer players were hospitalized during a grueling league game against Skyview Friday, at Kiggins Bowl.
The Papermakers netted three goals in the second half to defeat the Storm 4-2.
“It was a crazy game,” said assistant coach Dan Macaya. “I’ll remember the battle. There were guys on both teams who had been knocked out of the game, but we gutted it out to the end and earned a solid win.”
Skyview lost a player to an injury in the first sequence of the game. The Storm had a 1-0 lead when they put another ball in the net, but the official ruled offsides, so the goal did not count.
Camas defender Sam Pizot jammed his wrist during this sequence and had to come out of the game. Lucas Ulmer, another Camas defender, suffered a broken rib. Camas forward Nate Beasley and the Skyview center back collided in midair while going for the ball. Both players were bleeding and had to leave the game.
The Papermakers had to play the last 10 minutes of regulation, and injury stoppage time, without any substitutes. Macaya praised them for their courage.
“It was the first time they really dug down deep and showed that they wanted to win,” he said.
Cameron Eyeman tied the game up for the Papermakers before halftime. They took that energy into the locker room.
“At halftime, it was all about who wants it more. The guys really rallied around that,” Macaya said. “Skyview had already beaten us at home. I think that was a factor. The guys wanted to go out there and get a little redemption.”
Cayne Cardwell gave Camas a 2-1 lead. Eyman added his second goal of the game to make it 3-1. Skyview cut it to a 3-2 contest with about 12 minutes left. Bennett Lehner finished off a through ball by Cardwell to help the Papermakers regain the advantage.
Macaya, a 2003 CHS graduate, coached his first varsity game, while Roland Minder watched Evergreen and Union play at McKenzie Stadium. That game ended in a 1-1 tie.
When Minder heard the Camas result, he rushed back to the high school to be the first one to congratulate them.
“He jumped right on the bus,” Macaya said. “It was kind of a whirlwind to know that Union and Evergreen had tied, and we had just beaten Skyview. We feel like we control our own destiny. We just have to get the results we want and keep pushing forward.”
