Mountain View forward Felix Diaz had a hard time putting the postgame scene into words.
He had just headed the ball off of a deflection from the goalkeeper and watched his golden goal bounce past the goal line as teammates from the bench and the field mobbed him in celebration.
After a scoreless 80 minutes of regulation, Diaz’s finish marked a 1-0 win over Bonney Lake and launched the Thunder into the state tournament.
Freshman Nathan Purvis was among those jumping and celebrating with Diaz and a pack of teammates on the track closest to the fan section. “It was fantastic,” he said.
To add to the elation, it was the same district elimination game Mountain View’s season ended in last season in penalty kicks.
“It was really intense,” Diaz said. “Exciting just seeing the goal go in, your teammates hugging you, it was the best.”
The goal came two minutes into the first period of extra time in the sixth-place game. Mountain View had created scoring chances throughout the game, so the team felt the goal was a long time coming.
The Thunder produced three opportunities during stoppage time, including a shot off the crossbar and a 40-yard line drive free kick that was aimed at the near post but scooped up by the Bonney Lake goalkeeper. Another time, after a hard foul on the right border of the 18-yard box, midfielder Andres Lopez-Garcia floated the free kick through the middle of the box, but it bounced through untouched.
Those types of opportunities had been coming all game.
In the 60th minute, Mountain View caught the Bonney Lake goalkeeper off his line and mustered an off-balance shot at a keeper-less net, but it was blocked by a defender.
That was unbecoming of the Thunder, who scored three goals six times during league play. But the win proved they belong among the 16 remaining teams in the state. Ask Diaz, and he’ll say the team knew that all along.
“We always have that motivation that we’re going to go far,” he said.
Mountain View (10-3-4, 7-2-1 3A Greater St. Helens League) finished second in league and enter the field of 16 as a 6-seed.
That’s plenty good enough for these Thunder, who can easily draw on the feeling of almost making it last year. Their season now continues into next week at state where, like Saturday, will be win-or-go-home.
“We were once in the sad place,” Diaz said. “(Now) it’s our time to shine. We’re coming for it.”
MOUNTAIN VIEW 1, BONNEY LAKE 0 (OT)
Mountain View
Goals (assists) — Felix Diaz; Goalkeeper saves — Nicolas Popoca.
Halftime — 0-0
