SHORELINE — Columbia River coach Filly Afenegus consistently reminds his team about legacy, and what individuals can leave behind for future classes and teams. The 2019 Chieftain girls soccer team’s tales will be ones of triumph.
Columbia River went 21-1 this season, the senior class made it four straight state semifinal appearances and despite a district championship loss that put the Chieftains on the road throughout the 2A State Tournament, they persevered. There was one final story of success to be told Saturday.
Yaneisy Rodriguez hammered home a 36-yard free kick in the 57th minute and the Chieftains ousted 2A Greater St. Helens League rival Hockinson 1-0 in the state championship at Shoreline Stadium.
“It’s incredible,” Afenegus said. “For us to finish 21-1 was pretty impressive, but I think the most impressive thing was to lose the district championship game and have the resolve to … win all of our games on the road to get this to point.”
The game-winning shot was a bold choice, even with Rodriguez, an elite talent, standing over it. But with attacking chances few and far between in the 0-0 deadlock, Rodriguez eyed her coach, Filly Afenegus. He’s been around the game awhile. It’s his eighth year in charge of the Chieftain girls. In that tenure, River has never missed the state playoffs and have been in six state semifinals.
So he’s allowed to “have a feeling,” as he described. A premonition of sorts that it might be a good idea to have Rodriguez shoot from 36 yards. He gave the order: “Shoot it.”
Rodriguez struck it well, floating it just over Hockinson goalkeeper’s Madison Perry’s outstretched arms and under the crossbar. Jubilation. Rodriguez jumped into fellow senior Shalece Easley’s arms. The Chieftains again returned to the pinnacle.
“She’s been incredible all year long for us,” Afenegus said of the goal. “It was set up perfectly in the middle of the field and so I yelled at her to take a shot. She did it, and the ball went in the back of the net. She executed that free kick perfectly.”
The six-person senior class experienced a title in 2016 — the school also won championships in 2009 and 2012 — but this one felt different.
“I’m honestly just in awe,” Rodriguez said of the victory. “Freshman year, we were just passengers and this year, we’re leading the bus.”
And while that senior class — led by Rodriguez, Easley and Julia Cash— was plenty talented, it also had big contributions by its younger counterparts. The defense allowed just nine goals this season.
That backline is anchored by sophomore Ella Osborne, who denied a Hockinson breakaway with a last-chance tackle in the first half, and Luci Ianello, who decided to return to soccer after running cross country last year.
“It couldn’t have gone any better,” Ianello said of her return. “At first, I thought I’d miss what I did last year. But I’m so happy with it.”
Behind the defense is junior goalkeeper Allison Countryman, who had to make two huge saves late Saturday, both on Hockinson star Brooke Grosz. In the 64th minute, Grosz, a Western Washington University signee, sprinted down the sideline before cutting toward the net. She was yards away when she fired a low shot that Countryman blocked. In the 75th, Grosz found herself open in the penalty area and took a touch toward net; Countryman again jumped on the ball.
“This weekend was my first state (semifinal) debut,” Countryman said. “I’m so thankful. I’m speechless. I’m so proud of my team.”
Grosz was a problem for the Chieftain defense throughout the night. In the first half she was taken down just outside the penalty area by two Columbia River defenders on one of her persistent runs forward. A natural defender, the Hawks asked her to play more in attack this season. She frequently went end line to end line without tiring.
“Her play speaks for itself,” Hockinson coach Joe Chicks said. “She plays and trains like every game is her last. It’s so contagious. She just kind of wills her team to fight until the end.”
Despite the loss, Hockinson had its best season in program history. They finished 16-7-1 and made their first-ever state semifinal appearance. Their final two games: a 2-0 win over Ridgefield and 1-0 loss to Columbia River were perhaps their most well-played games of the season.
The Hawks finished third in the 2A Greater St. Helens League and the Southwest District Tournament.
“I’m so proud of them,” said Chicks, tears in his eyes. “Second place kind of stings, and I’d be concerned if it didn’t. What’s going to hurt the most is the end of our journey.”
COLUMBIA RIVER 1, HOCKINSON 0
Columbia River
Goal (assist) — Yaneisy Rodriguez (unassisted); Goalkeeper saves — Allison Countryman 3.
Hockinson
Goalkeeper saves — Madison Perry 6.
Halftime — 0-0
