Columbia River FC clinches top playoff spot

RICHLAND — Luis Martinez scored his fourth goal of the year in the first half and Tito added a second-half goal as Columbia River Futbol Club beat Provo Premier FC 2-0 on Saturday in a National Star Soccer League match at Bomber Field in Richland.

With the victory, Columbia River (10-1) clinched the Northwest Conference regular-season championship and a first-round home match in the NSSL playoffs beginning August 14. CRFC also gained a measure of revenge against Provo (9-2), which handed the team its only loss -- a 2-0 setback in Utah on June 12.

"It felt good winning this game. We gave them a taste of what it's like to lose and then take the long trip back home," said Martinez, a midfielder and team captain. "It was a pretty close game, just back and forth. They had a couple of breakaways but our goalkeeper (Octavio Virrueta) had two good saves."

Columbia River outshot Provo 15-7, and Virrueta finished with seven saves.

Martinez, a 2006 Kamiakin graduate, scored in the 16th minute off an assist from Enrique Moreno. Martinez ran into the play just above the 18-yard box and controlled a high bounce before blasting a low shot into the net for a 1-0 lead.

The second goal came in the 70th minute on a Columbia River breakaway by Rafael Vergara and Tito, who put the ball away from 20 yards to cap the scoring.

Provo, the conference's second-place team, will play Chelan next Saturday and can tie Columbia River for the best record. But CRFC clinched the No. 1 playoff seed based on overall goal differential.

1, CR, Luis Martinez (Enrique Moreno), 16:00; 2, CR, Tito (Rafael Vergara), 70:00. Shots: U 7, CR 15. Saves—CR, Octavio Virrueta 7.

This story was originally published August 1, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Columbia River FC clinches top playoff spot."