KALAMA — In some ways, the La Center boys soccer team surpassed even its own expectations this season.
After finishing third in the Trico League season, the Wildcats found their stride and claimed the District 4 title with three consecutive wins. But the postseason magic ended without the program’s first state playoff win.
Klahowya of Silverdale scored three second-half goals on Tuesday to beat the Wildcats 3-0 in a Class 1A state playoff match at Kalama High School.
“I’m proud of my guys and everything we did,” said Alex Firl, along with Colton Arends and Jacob Latham one of three senior team captains for La Center. “We gave our all, but in the end they were the better team.”
The visiting Eagles demonstrated their class by, scoring twice in the first five minutes after halftime. The first came less than a minute into the second 40-minute period as Jack Cooper broke the scoreless tie by finishing a scramble opportunity from close range.
“I think that spurred those (Klahowya) guys on,” La Center coach Reece Scragg said.
A few minutes later it became 2-0 on a play that started from a throw-in. Cooper was able to head the ball into space for Derek Carpenter who placed a nice chip shot just inside the far post.
La Center did generate several chances from there. Senior Arends, who had 22 goals this season, tested goalkeeper Kasey Trask a couple of times. Trask also made a nice first-half stop on a header from Jordan Vazquez-Hunt.
The last flicker of hope for La Center ended with 16 minutes left when Klahowya’s Keegan Grellner made it 3-0 with a beautiful shot from 30 yards away.
“They were quick. They were very organized. And the third goal was a good strike,” said Scragg, wishing Klahowya success in the quarterfinals and beyond. “It’s state. It’s the best of the best.”
This was the first state berth for La Center boys soccer program since three consecutive trips from 2007-09. Firl said he is proud of the strides the Wildcats made in a season when several freshman stepped into key roles, particularly on defense where the team graduated all four of its 2014 starters.
Scragg, in his second season as the Wildcats coach, said he will remember this spring for the way players stepped up when teammates were missing for injuries or other reasons. He pointed to Joseph McManus, a junior midfielder who shifted to right back late in the season, as one example.
“I’ll remember the attitude from all the boys,” the coach said. “They just kept going and going and going. We had a lot of challenges and other people just kept stepping up. I think that’s what got us the district (championship) win is people stepping up.”
Firl, who will play college soccer at BYU-Hawaii, said representing La Center was a special experience. “To represent my school is the best feeling in the world. To have the crowd that we have is just awesome playing in front of them.”
