Well, things didn't go as planned.
RA Long, which had hopes of facing the reigning 2A state champions in the district championship, fell flat on its face Thursday night with a crushing 7-1 loss at Kiggins Bowl.
Instead, it was the Columbia River that made a statement against the entire 2A classification. The Rapids have scored 15 goals in their last two games, are on track for another district title and look ready to defend their state championship starting next week.
RA Long saw Columbia River weaken its four-man back line with four different players scoring goals throughout the first half and the team searching for answers. Unfortunately, Columbia River did not score as they continued to gain momentum in the second half behind JP Guzman, Tito Banuelos, and Mason Renner.
“It was kind of a comedy of mistakes,” RA Long head coach Max Anderson said. “I think we were definitely mentally hungover after Tuesday night. But, you know, this is going to help us get our attention more than anything because it's going to be this quality going forward, so step up. It's either you do it or you put up with it.”
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RA Long managed to score Columbia River's fourth goal allowed all season as Craiger Clark, who spent the first half as a center back before moving to a forward role in the second half, got on the edge of a quality ball and slotted it into the box. Recorded. Beiro Orozco had a free kick opportunity in the 70th minute.
With the score at 6-1, Clark's goal broke the Rapids' clean sheet and only gave the Jacks some reward after playing 240 minutes against their 2A GSHL rival. The teams failed to score in either of their previous two meetings during the regular season.
“Unfortunately, the mistakes we made will serve as a lesson. We didn't do anything wrong,” Anderson added. “We're going to have to take what we've been doing all season and clean up. I think we have the ability. We played two-zero (on the River) a week ago.
“I think we're stronger mentally than we showed today.”
Things didn't go well for the Jacks from the opening kickoff. Two minutes into the game, Ryland Perron scored off a pass from Tyler Brown.
Rapids was just getting started.
In the 20th minute, Pitor Henrichs Tarasenkov pounced on a loose ball inside the Jacks' penalty area and fired a shot past RA Long keeper Raul Sanchez, but Sanchez was unable to catch the ball as it was flying around in front of him. I couldn't reach it.
The Rapids added two goals in the final five minutes of the second half, doubling their lead to 4-0. Each goal showed a different way the Rapids could burn you. The first goal was scored by Beckham Young's powerful cross into the box, where JP Guzmão dove and fired an uncontested header into the far corner in the 35th minute. Then, in the 40th minute, Tito Banuelos won the ball near midfield after keeper Cameron Harris's spectacular goal-kick bounced off the turf and landed at his feet.
Banuelos continued up the field, cut through the Jacks' defense, tried to take the ball off his shoulder just past Clark, and fired a shot past Sanchez and into the top corner of the goal.
The second half was no different, despite the Jacks trying to push their offense forward. The Rapids brought in a fresh player almost every five minutes and repeatedly drilled shots into RA Long's net.
Guzman completed his hat trick with goals in the 55th and 63rd minutes.
RA Long created two quality chances in the first 10 minutes of the second half, but were unable to score the winning goal in crucial moments.
Coach Anderson knows he will have to regroup his team for next week's state tournament. Just getting tickets to the dance won't be enough as Tuesday's WF He will build on his dramatic win over West.
“We can't be satisfied with just passing state. Otherwise, it's a waste of everyone's time. We have to work with real purpose moving forward,” Anderson said. .
RA Long (16-4 league, 13-3) is awaiting the tournament bracket to be announced by the WIAA on Sunday.