Taye Bunda felt the mountainous weight of expectations leave him when he saw his shot hit the back of the net with six minutes left to play.
He had just spun a defender, and ripped a bouncing shot past the goalkeeper’s near post to ensure Union’s return trip to postseason, a year removed from the bitter feeling of the Titans falling short.
For Bunda, a four-year varsity player, the goal put to rest all the doubt he heard from rival players and students throughout the season — and in the crowd on Thursday evening at McKenzie Stadium.
So Bunda ran toward the crowd and removed his shirt in celebration, making good on a promise to a teammate at halftime, and the Titans defeated Heritage 4-2 to grap the No. 2 seed from the 4A Greater St. Helens League heading into bi-districts.
“The crowd was chirping a bit, I had to do it,” Bunda, who got a yellow card for the stunt, said.
For as sound as Union (5-7, 4-3 4A GSHL) looked offensively, those orchestrating the offense felt like credit was owed to their first-year head coach Jason Moore.
“Last year having not a great season, coming back and revitalizing the program is a great feeling,” McGinty said. “(Moore) has been a great coach all season, really made the team improve, great tactics, helping the guys get better, making them more confident in themselves.”
The Titans jumped up to an early 2-0 lead by the 17th minute when Bunda and fellow forward Aidan McGinty played a seamless one-touch combo play that sliced and diced the Heritage defense for an open goal.
The two didn’t even need to look at one another. It was a play they had worked on plenty of times in practice, so they knew exactly where to put the ball.
“That’s basically all we do,” McGinty said.
Admittedly, Moore said that chemistry wasn’t immediately evident. Since the majority of Union does not play together on club teams in the offseason, he worked on taking the talent he knew the team possessed and mining connections on the field.
Plus, the team heard many predicted them to finish last in the league.
“We took that personally,” Moore said.
McGinty played center midfield for the first five games of the season, and the Titans felt as though their chemistry was off. Moore moved McGinty to forward next to Bunda, and the two took off, as did the Titans.
Going into the evening Thursday, four points separated the top team in the 4A GSHL, Skyview, and the fourth-place team in Union.
Heritage (8-4, 4-3) started the day one point shy of first place. The Timberwolves knew a win could get them a league title, but a loss could end their playoff dreams.
But when Skyview and Camas tied 1-1, Heritage was assured of the third and final berth to the bi-districts.
Camas was eliminated, ending the Papermakers’ 19-year run of reaching the state tournament.
Due to the volatility of the league standings, none of the 11 Heritage players on the field knew whether or not their season was over when the final whistle blew. Some assumed the worst. A few became emotional.
Center defender Edgar Ruesga was among those who dropped to the ground with sadness. But soon teammates, and his coach, ran over to him and told him to get up, because the Timberwolves’ season was not over.
“I’m so happy right now,” Ruesga said. “Words can’t even explain.”
Ruesga scored off a far post header from a cross from defender Antonio Garcia to bring Heritage within one goal at 3-2 with 14 minutes left, but Bunda provided the dagger with six minutes left.
And with the win, the Titans feel revitalized heading into districts with the two seed.
“I think we can beat anyone,” McGinty said.
But more laundry lost in potential goal celebrations come postseason?
“I told him never do it again,” Moore said, laughing.
