The day he checked off one of his main goals for his senior season — being named the Gatorade Player of the Year for Washington — Bennett Lehner scored the goal that made his Camas Papermakers district champions.
Lehner scored off a rebound in the 45th minute as Camas beat rival Union 1-0 on Tuesday in the Distirct 4 championship match at McKenzie Stadium.
The win means Camas (16-1-1) will host a bidistrict match against Woodinville on either Friday or Saturday. Union (12-5-1) will visit Mount Si at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Five minutes into the second half, Union goalkeeper Brandon Wolter made a strong save on a driven shot from Danny Wing, but Lehner pounced on the rebound for his 21st goal of the season and the only one Camas needed on Tuesday.
“He’s a really good goalie. But I knew there were opportunities there so I followed the ball up,” Lehner said. “That’s the first thing you learn is you always follow the ball up.”
In a match played mostly between the 18-yard boxes, Lehner said he was confident one goal would be enough.
Camas goalkeeper Brian Murray did not make a save in the second half after collecting two shots right at him in the first half. The Papermaker keeper did though have to deal with a series of free kicks lofted into the penalty area.Union took eight second-half free kicks — including a stoppage time opportunity from 21 yards in front of goal.
Camas coach Roland Minder said he could hardly watch as Jonathan Granados — who scored on a free kick to tie a match a week ago at Camas — lines up the opportunity. This time, Granados effort went high.
Lehner nearly gave his team some early breathing room, but his angled effort off a pass from Erik Brainard hit the post in the 17th minute.
Union coach Kelcey Burris said the match was a typical battle between the rivals, with each play contested and little opportunity for either team to create.
“I was proud of the way the guys competed,” Burris said.
Union lost to Mount Si 2-0 at McKenzie Stadium on March 12, less than 24 hours after opening the season at Eastlake.
Minder said Woodinville has requested their match be played Friday night because of prom. He said Camas will decide Wednesday whether to play on Friday or Saturday.
For Lehner, the next match is the first of three his team must win to accomplish his second goal for his senior season: reaching the state semifinals.
And that Gatorade award?
“I was overwhelmed,” Lehner said. “I honestly just thought abut the team. This team has been awesome this year.”
