Maksim Yurichko was an eighth grader watching from the stands a year ago at Kiggins Bowl as top-seeded Columbia River’s season ended in an upset loss.
A year later, he was an instrumental part in the Chieftains’ winning that same game.
Columbia River (20-0) has not trailed much this season but overcame an early deficit and produced late-game heroics to defeat Clarkston 3-2 in the first round of the 2A state tournament on Wednesday at Kiggins Bowl.
And by doing so, the Chieftains, in the words of head coach Filly Afenegus after the game, “exorcised some demons” in their quest for a state championship.
“Last year ended in heartbreak and I think we really learned from that,” said senior forward Ryan Connop, who is one of the 11 returning starters from last year’s team.
But it didn’t come in the way most games have for the Chieftains all season.
Clarkston scored midway through the first half when junior forward Theo Baiye sent a shot screaming past River goalkeeper Reilly Burke.
When Clarkston’s goal fell through the back of the net, present on River players’ minds — and in their collective gut — was the remaining sting of defeat from a full calendar year ago.
“We tried to yell at each other keep your heads up, keep on going,” sophomore Jake Connop said. “Keep on fighting. Keep your head in the game.”
After the goal, River shifted another player to a second holding midfielder position to try and mitigate the quick bursts of speed from Theo Baiye, and his brother Steve Baiye.
After that the Chieftains, who were not short on offensive opportunities, put one in the back of the net.
Yurichko juked his way into the 18-yard box and put a low cross past the reach of two defenders to Julian Villa-Salas. When Villa-Salas’ shot was deflected, Jack Kolosvary followed up, and was fouled in the process, resulting in a penalty kick.
Kolosvary put that away in the 36th minute. Yurichko isn’t credited with the assist, but he set the whole thing up.
And when the game was tied 2-2 late, Yurichko deliver the assist on the game-winner. In the 72nd minute, the freshman found Ryan Connop as he scored a header to go ahead 3-2.
“Pretty indescribable honestly,” Ryan Connop said. “That was an amazing feeling.”
That it was set up by Yurichko was no surprise to the forward.
Ryan Connop said the “crafty” freshman brings something to River’s offense that it did not have last season — a playmaker in the middle of the park who can make defenders miss and find open feet.
“He pulls in three or four players opening up three or four players and he gets the ball out to those players,” Jake Connop added.
After the game, Afenegus reminded the team of what it had accomplished — on the very field and stage its season ended last year.
Then Afenegus reminded his team their goal is still three wins away.
Next, Columbia River will host three-time defending state champion Archbishop Murphy.
“We can’t get complacent,” Ryan Connop said. “We’re 20-0, but at the end of the day, unless we go all the way, 20-0 doesn’t mean anything. Especially me being a senior. I put a lot of stock into myself and carrying this team all the way.
“We’re not done yet.”
