Wednesday, May. 14, 2008

Pasco boys fall to Eastlake in shootout

By Jack Millikin, Herald staff writer

The Pasco boys soccer team that won the 2007 4A state title thrived on adversity, winning game after game with its back to the wall despite heavy odds.

But there is such a thing as too much adversity, something the Bulldogs discovered after a 2-1 shootout loss to Eastlake in the first round of the 4A state playoffs Tuesday at Edgar Brown Stadium.

The defending 4A champions played without three starters -- forward Marco Acevedo, midfielder Miguel Acevedo and sweeper Brady Espinoza -- for the second straight game. The trio was suspended from the team for disciplinary reasons before Saturday's 2-1 loss to Central Valley.

And although Pasco (13-4) managed a 1-0 second-half lead against the KingCo Lake Division champions, the loss of perhaps its two best players -- Acevedo and Espinoza were both first-team all-Columbia Basin League selections -- proved too much to overcome as the Bulldogs lost their second straight game.

"I think the main thing was (Marco Acevedo and Espinoza) were captains, and this is a young team," said Pasco coach Mike Pardini. "I can't pin it on them for us not winning this game, though. The guys showed a lot of heart. Unfortunately, it had to be settled by penalty kicks."

Nick Rudella fired a low shot past Bulldogs goalkeeper Emmanuel Martinez in the sixth round, setting up a must-score situation for Pasco's Ricardo Chicas. But Chicas' shot went high, giving the Wolves a 4-3 edge as Eastlake players celebrated behind him.

"(Pasco) is a phenomenal team. Once you win a state title, you know something," said Eastlake coach Adam Gervis. "But I've never seen a team with more heart and determination than this group. We came here yesterday, and we just knew we were going to win.

"There was just this quiet air about them."

The Wolves (12-7) advance to the 4A quarterfinals for the second time in three years, where they will visit Mead -- a 2-0 winner over Central Valley -- on Saturday.

Eastlake featured a strong back line anchored by seniors Tyler Klein and Easton Fix, who towered over Pasco players and were able to outmuscle them in the Wolves' box.

"(Fix) towered over me since I'm only 5-foot-4," said Paul Herrera, who scored the Bulldogs' only goal in the 45th minute, volleying a bouncer down the right flank over Eastlake keeper Zack Wile for a 1-0 lead. "We felt we could (beat them), but obviously we were down. We knew we'd be hurting (with the suspensions). It just breaks your spirit."

Klein and Fix connected at the offensive end -- a long throw in from Klein that Fix headed past Martinez inside the left post -- that evened the match up at 1 in the 59th minute.

"In our last six games, they've scored all our goals," Gervis said.

Pasco got off to a good start in the shootout, as Martinez dropped down low to stop Fix's low roller on Eastlake's first shot. But Jesse Macias, who did an admirable job filling in for Espinoza at sweeper, overshot the net.

The Wolves hit four of their next five shots to clinch the win.

"(After Martinez's save) I was thinking, 'Here we go,' " Pardini said. "In both of his shootouts, he's made saves. He's been far superior to all the keepers in our league."

Scoring--1, P, Paul Herrera (Jacob Ellsworth), 45:00; 2, E, Easton Fix (Tyler Klein), 59:00. Shootout goals (Eastlake 4-3)--Eastlake, Brandon Haberly, Tyler Klein, Justin Lewis, Nick Rudella. Pasco, Herrera, Lucas Cash, Antonio Barrera. Shots--E 14, P 11. Saves--E, Zack Wile 2. P, Emmanuel Martinez 1.

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