CAMAS — Just wait until the Camas boys soccer team’s lineup is fully jelled.
It’s not yet, senior Danny Wing said, but it’s close, and Friday was a good test for what’s to come as the playoffs draw closer.
Behind a goal and assist each by Wing and Erik Brainard, Camas’ 4-3 victory over Union at Doc Harris Stadium secured a much-needed three points for the Papermakers in the 4A Greater St. Helens League standings, as they’re chasing their second outright league title in three seasons.
With two regular-season games remaining, they knows they’re big ones, too, if they want to earn the 4A GSHL’s top seed, which comes with a home bi-district winner-to-state game May 11. The Paperamerks host league-leader Battle Ground on Monday and play at Skyview Wednesday. The Storm handed Camas its only league loss, and Battle Ground and Camas tied 1-1 in their first meeting.
At the start of the season, Camas (10-1-2 overall, 4-1-1 league) missed a half-dozen players because of injuries, leaving coach Roland Minder shuffling to find different lineup combinations.
One of those players back is Wing, who said it’s only a matter of short timing before the full-strength lineup finds its groove.
“There’s so much talent on this team,” Wing said, “we just have to do it together.”
Wing assisted Erik Brainard’s first-half goal that made it a 2-1 Camas halftime lead. After Union was called for a handball, his penalty kick in the 67th minute made it a 3-1 advantage.
After that, a flurry of goals came in the final 13 minutes, including Union’s Alexis Arroyo’s shot from 20 yards out in stoppage time to pull Union (3-8-4, 0-6-1) within a goal.
In fact, that’s been the story of the Titans’ season: one-goal losses. Friday was the team’s sixth one-goal defeat, yet coach Kelcey Burris commended his team for one of its better offensive performances on the season.
Miguel De Le Melena scored the game’s first goal in the 21st minute, and goalkeeper Brandon Wolter had five saves. The team is eliminated from playoff contention, and closes out the season hosting Heritage Wednesday.
“We’ve been playing better and better throughout the season,” Burris said. “Unfortunately, we’re running out of time.”
