Soccer roundup: Pasco beats Kennewick late in 4A regionals

PASCO — Pasco boys soccer coach Mike Pardini isn't a big believer in rankings, at least not until they count for something.

His conviction has set a good tone for the Bulldogs, ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 2 in the nation according to the latest NSCAA/adidas poll.

Because if Pasco had rested simply on the laurels of its lofty poll position Saturday at Edgar Brown Stadium, the upstart Kennewick Lions would likely have advanced to the 4A state playoffs.

But the Bulldogs held fast on their home turf, grinding out a hard-fought 4-3 double-overtime victory over the Lions in the Eastern Regionals.

Pasco (16-0) advanced to host Lewis & Clark at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Edgar Brown in the first round of the state playoffs.

Lucas Cash scored the game-winning goal for Pasco, punching home a short-range roller past Kennewick goalkeeper Jared Gower after a long throw-in from Marco Acevedo with just under two minutes left in double overtime.

"Right place, right time," Pardini said. "If we had gone to a shootout, that would have been one more thing to worry about."

Pardini praised a Kennewick team that was making just its second playoff appearance in five years but had posted impressive wins over Eisenhower and Walla Walla to earn a spot at regionals.

"They wanted to be here, and we had to match their tempo," he said. "At this point, records don't mean much."

Clearly, they didn't mean much to the Lions (10-9), who erased one-goal deficits three times during the contest. Their three goals represented the most scored at Edgar Brown Stadium by an opponent since Richland scored three goals in a double-overtime loss on April 10, 2007.

Coming into the game, Pasco had outscored opponents 24-1 at home this season.

But each time the Bulldogs scored, Kennewick had an answer. The Lions' aggressive attacks set up a goal by freshman forward Paul Martinez and two penalty kicks from Merced Rodriguez -- the last to tie the game at 3 in the 73rd minute.

"We were tired. We just left everything on the field," said Kennewick coach Dwight Brayton. "Our guys gave it all. They did everything I asked them to do."

Martinez was a wrench in the works for the Pasco defense, tying the score at 2 in the 54th minute. He also set the tone for Kennewick's offense in the first half, charging into the Bulldogs penalty box in pursuit of a loose ball in the 17th minute.

Pasco keeper Emmanuel Martinez arrived at about the same time trying to grab the ball. Instead, he got a piece of the Kennewick forward to draw a foul and a Lions' penalty kick, which Rodriguez buried to tie the score at 1.

"I thought I made contact with the ball first. I was hoping to kick it away," Emmanuel said. "(Kennewick) came out and played their hearts out, and we played more like individuals than as a team.

"Today was not our best game ever, but it puts a little light above our head. All games are going to be tough from this point."

Marco Acevedo played a strong game for Pasco, recording a goal and two assists.

Rodriguez drew a soft red card two minutes into double overtime after he tripped up Eddie Mendoza on a breakaway, leaving Kennewick to finish with 10 players over the final three minutes.

"He's one of our best penalty-kick takers, and as he left the field he just told us, 'You'll have to put one in for me,' " Brayton said.

One minute later, Cash ended the game for Pasco.

Pasco 4, Kennewick 3 (2OT)
Scoring—1, P, Ricardo Chicas (Marco Acevedo), 17:00; 2, K, Merced Rodriguez (PK), 25:00; 3, P, Andrew Clark (Richard Renteria), 34:00; 4, Paul Martinez (Daniel Rojo), 46:00; 5, P, Acevedo (Eddie Mendoza), 56:00; 6, K, Rodriguez (PK), 73:00; 7, P, Lucas Cash (Acevedo), 88:00. Shots—K 12, P 26. Saves—K, Jared Gower 6. P, Emmanuel Martinez 0, Eddie Acevedo (25:00) 0, E.Martinez (26:00) 3.

Lewis & Clark 1, Kamiakin 0

Andreas Andersson's goal with 7 minutes left before halftime stood up for Lewis & Clark (11-4) in a 4A Eastern Regional victory at Lampson Stadium.

Kamiakin's best scoring chance came in the 60th minute, when Garrett Bowe won a loose ball just outside the 6-yard box but shot it right at LC keeper Chris Hollman, who parried the ball over the crossbar.

"It was a very even match," said Braves coach Todd Borak, whose team finished 11-7. "We just couldn't put it in the net today."

Scoring—1, LC, Andreas Andersson (Christian Foster), 33:00. Shots—LC 8, K 5. Saves—LC, Chris Hollman 5. K, Abel Bautista 7.

West Valley 4, Sunnyside 2

YAKIMA -- CBBN Player of the Year Junior Ayala had a goal and an assist to lead West Valley (15-3) to a 3A state first-round victory over Sunnyside (12-7).

Scoring—1, WV, A.J. Vargas, 9:30. 2, WV, Connor Nathe (Junior Ayala), 64:00. 3, WV, Salvador Pulido, 66:00. 4, S, Brian Galvan, 68:00. 5, WV, Ayala (Joel Heiser), 72:00. 6, S, Galvan (PK), 74:30. Saves—S, Joaquin Perez 6. WV, Phil Lopez 8.

Prosser 2, Toppenish 0

PROSSER -- Victor Corona scored twice in a six-minute span of the second half to lift Prosser (15-3) to its first-ever district title, beating Toppenish in the CWAC final.

The Mustangs will host Quincy (14-6), a 3-1 winner over Othello, at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the first round of the 2A state playoffs.

Scoring—1, P, Victor Corona 54:00; 2, P, Corona 60:00. Shots—T 17, P 12. Saves—T, Leo Fuentes 6. P, Amado Torres 7.