Walla Walla boys soccer team's state playoff run ends with round of 16 loss to Gig Harbor

GIG HARBOR - The Walla Walla High School fight song encourages Blue Devil teams to "fight to the finish" and "never give in."

Wa-Hi's boys soccer team did just that, according to coach Victor Saldaña, in Class 3A state playoff action on Friday, May 22, at Roy Anderson Stadium.

The 13th-seeded Blue Devils, unfortunately, were unable to punch their ticket to the state quarterfinals and ended the season with a 3-2, round of 16 loss to No. 4 seed Gig Harbor.

"It was a great game," Saldaña said. "I am proud of the boys, but there has to be a winner and a loser."

Gig Harbor scored the contest's first goal just past the midway point of the opening half before Wa-Hi equalized at the 32-minute mark. Jaykob Lopez assisted Cristian Tapia's tying goal that was struck from 25 yards out.

The Blue Devils' good fortune ended a couple of minutes later, Saldaña said, when Gig Harbor rallied for a tie-breaking goal. An initial shot caromed off the cross bar, but was put away in deep, and Gig Harbor went to halftime with a 2-1 edge.

"The momentum shifted, but we still had the mentality that we were going to come back," Saldaña said.

Gig Harbor dispelled that notion with a goal off a corner kick 10 minutes into the second half.

Wa-Hi tightened up the proceedings at 65 minutes. Lopez fired a shot off the cross bar, but Uly Perez volleyed in the rebound to keep Blue Devil hopes alive.

Lopez had a chance to level the score five minutes later, Saldaña said, but his attempt just inside the 18-yard box, left angle, was denied by the crossbar.

"We worked hard," Saldaña said. "We're a young team. The opposing coach said we were 'fighters.'

I can't wait to see what we're going to do next year."

Friday's setback was a bitter pill to swallow, but Saldaña believes the future is bright for Wa-Hi soccer.

"We have many players coming back with a winning mindset," Saldaña said. "We can't wait to see what we're going to do next year."

Friday's match was the last for Blue Devil seniors Perez (midfielder), Felix Hernandez Saldana (defender) and LJ Garza (forward/defender).

"They never thought they were going to be here," Saldana said. "They helped set the standard. We're sad to see them leave."

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