Zach Martin / zach@chronline.com
This is a phrase often used in the soccer world. His two-goal cushion makes him one of the most dangerous leads in the sport.
This gap can lead to despair in trailing teams and conservatism in leading teams.
For the WF West High School boys soccer team, it was a unique experience, losing in the 2nd Grade A District 4 semifinals.
Leading 3-1 with eight minutes left in regulation, RA Long rallied to score three straight goals, including a game-clinching golden goal in the 84th minute, to beat the Bearcats 4-3 in Chehalis on Tuesday night.
“We just fell apart,” WF West head coach Allen Anderson said. “Part of it is me. I may have been involved in different places and with different people that I shouldn't have been involved in. I think we were tired and didn't want to focus for a second against a good team. If they let up, they will pay the price.”
The comeback will send the Lumberjacks to the state tournament for the first time since 2018. They will play fellow Greater St. Helens League foe Columbia River on Saturday for the district title.
Everyone on the field for the Bearcats (11-5-1) fell down when Gavin Guyer's 25-plus-yard shot found the bottom left corner of the net and sailed past a diving Kayden Page for the winning goal.
Afterwards, they sat in a circle in sadness and disbelief.
“This is a tough loss,” forward/midfielder Jeremy Thompson said. “They had three great shots from outside the box. Their placement was awkward. There were some nerves.”
Thompson fired his second goal of the match in the 71st minute, hitting the bar and falling behind the line. That happened after the Lumberjacks took a penalty kick in the 64th minute.
When RA Long went down, they quickly responded with a goal from Andreas Orozco a minute later. Then, in the 74th minute, after a foul by WF West, Craiger Clarke tied the game with a free kick into the top right corner.
“It's disappointing,” Anderson said. “It was a great shot.”
Page and Josh Madrigal on the back line and in net have been an added force for the Bearcats this season. Recently, some cracks have started to appear.
They have given up 10 points in their last eight games since defeating Shelton 1-0 in mid-April. That's in contrast to his eight-game winning streak, which included a five-game shutout, in which he allowed three runs.
“It really represented our youth,” Anderson said. “I could see the players getting nervous as the game drew to a close. You can't be complacent against a team like this.”
James scored the goal in the ninth minute after receiving a feed from Thompson. James then fed Thompson, who beat a defender and fired a shot into the top of the net for a 2-0 lead in the 29th minute.
This season, Thompson has been the main striker in some games and roamed the midfield in others.
“Me and (Uzi) have different playing styles,” Thompson said. “We have different tactics to score.”
The Bearcats will host Hockinson in the elimination game Thursday night. The winner will be one of his final 16 players remaining in the 2A bracket.
Thompson and Anderson are confident WF West can quickly reset mentally ahead of the biggest game of the season so far.
“I believe in this team,” Thompson said.