NORTH-SOUTH SOCCER SHOWDOWN A DRAW
In a rematch of last year's 3A state quarterfinal game, Astoria and Hidden Valley played to a 1-1 draw at Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation Complex Saturday.
The non-league game pitted two of the state's top-ten teams against one another, with Astoria coming in unbeaten and top-ranked while the only blemish on Hidden Valley's ledger was a tie against defending 4A champion Ashland.
The Fishermen struck first, stinging the Mustangs on a corner kick in the second minute of play. From the right corner, senior midfielder Josimar Macareno served it deep in the box where 6-4 sweeper Mathias Brause was able to volley it in from the far post.
The two teams played a relatively even first half, with both getting six shots and both keepers making two saves. Most of Hidden Valley's shots came from distance and neither keeper was forced to make a significant effort.
Trouble began to develop for Astoria, though, about midway through the half. Already missing top forward Kevin Speer with a knee injury suffered late in the Seaside match Thursday, the Fishermen lost two more key players. Midfielder Michael Price, a heralded transfer from Arizona, pulled himself from the game and was later seen vomiting outside the field. Then, in the 35th minute, central defender Alfredo Garcia went for a hard tackle and ended up writhing in pain on the ground. After several minutes down, Garcia was carried to the sideline. Price would return later in the second half, but Garcia was done for the day.
The Mustangs turned up the pressure in the second half, beginning with a flurry of shots by junior midfielder Taylor Willie, a returning all-leaguer. At the 51 minute mark, the Mustangs ran a beautiful overlap down the right flank, with midfielder Corey Dean serving a cross to Willie, who got a strong shot off from about 15 yards, but right at Davis who punched it away.
Five minutes later, Astoria had an attack opportunity. Macareno, who played an outstanding all-around match, carried the ball down the left sideline nearly three quarters of the way down the field and eluded two tackle attempts before finding Christoph Mundt. The German midfielder, playing forward in Speer's absence, got a shot away but across the goal mouth wide right. Minutes later, midfielder Kyle McMullen fought through a hard tackle to get a close-range shot away, but Hidden Valley's sophomore keeper Austin Smith was able to make the tough save.
Hidden Valley was led by a pair of dangerous senior strikers, with honorable mention all-state Steve Shafer and returning all-leaguer Joe Guevara displaying a high level of skill and athleticism, particularly Shafer, who was relentless in attacking Astoria's goal despite only getting off three shots in the match.
It was Shafer who set up the equalizing goal in the 63rd minute. Man-marked in the penalty box by Astoria's Oscar Carriere, Shafer got free to receive a long pass, worked the ball to the outside, then sent a strong cross to the far post where forward Chris Chapman angled a volley back across the goal mouth to the right side netting, a gorgeous goal.
The Mustangs threatened to add another score on a pair of free kicks. Justin Nielsen sent a ball into the box that Brause was able to clear in a scramble while the goalie Davis and Hidden Valley's Dean ended up in a clinch in front of goal. Then, in the 72nd minute, Brause was called for a foul just inches outside the penalty box, giving the Mustangs a free kick directly in front of Astoria's goal. The shot caromed into the wall, and a rebound shot trickled wide right where Davis was able to scoop it up.
Astoria had one more scoring opportunity at the end of the match. Mathias Brause took a throw deep in Hidden Valley's end, tossing it into the box where it was touched away and controlled by Smith just seconds before the final whistle.
Astoria (5-0-1) returns to league play Tuesday at Yamhill-Carlton. The Fishermen, despite the injury losses, are expected to run the table the rest of the season against the Cowapa League, likely taking an unbeaten record into the playoffs. The immediate future of Speer and Garcia is unknown, pending doctor's examinations this week.
HIDDEN VALLEY 0-1-1
ASTORIA 1-0-1
1stH-AST: Brause (Macareno CK) 2:00
2ndH-HV: Chapman (Shafer) 63:00
SHOTS-HV: 16 (Willie 5), AST: 11 (McMullen 2, Price 2)
SAVES-HV: 5 (Smith), AST: 9 (Davis)
CORNER-HV: 3, AST: 2
FOULS-HV: 7, AST: 12
YELLOW CARDS-AST: Macareno (73:00)
The non-league game pitted two of the state's top-ten teams against one another, with Astoria coming in unbeaten and top-ranked while the only blemish on Hidden Valley's ledger was a tie against defending 4A champion Ashland.
The Fishermen struck first, stinging the Mustangs on a corner kick in the second minute of play. From the right corner, senior midfielder Josimar Macareno served it deep in the box where 6-4 sweeper Mathias Brause was able to volley it in from the far post.
The two teams played a relatively even first half, with both getting six shots and both keepers making two saves. Most of Hidden Valley's shots came from distance and neither keeper was forced to make a significant effort.
Trouble began to develop for Astoria, though, about midway through the half. Already missing top forward Kevin Speer with a knee injury suffered late in the Seaside match Thursday, the Fishermen lost two more key players. Midfielder Michael Price, a heralded transfer from Arizona, pulled himself from the game and was later seen vomiting outside the field. Then, in the 35th minute, central defender Alfredo Garcia went for a hard tackle and ended up writhing in pain on the ground. After several minutes down, Garcia was carried to the sideline. Price would return later in the second half, but Garcia was done for the day.
The Mustangs turned up the pressure in the second half, beginning with a flurry of shots by junior midfielder Taylor Willie, a returning all-leaguer. At the 51 minute mark, the Mustangs ran a beautiful overlap down the right flank, with midfielder Corey Dean serving a cross to Willie, who got a strong shot off from about 15 yards, but right at Davis who punched it away.
Five minutes later, Astoria had an attack opportunity. Macareno, who played an outstanding all-around match, carried the ball down the left sideline nearly three quarters of the way down the field and eluded two tackle attempts before finding Christoph Mundt. The German midfielder, playing forward in Speer's absence, got a shot away but across the goal mouth wide right. Minutes later, midfielder Kyle McMullen fought through a hard tackle to get a close-range shot away, but Hidden Valley's sophomore keeper Austin Smith was able to make the tough save.
Hidden Valley was led by a pair of dangerous senior strikers, with honorable mention all-state Steve Shafer and returning all-leaguer Joe Guevara displaying a high level of skill and athleticism, particularly Shafer, who was relentless in attacking Astoria's goal despite only getting off three shots in the match.
It was Shafer who set up the equalizing goal in the 63rd minute. Man-marked in the penalty box by Astoria's Oscar Carriere, Shafer got free to receive a long pass, worked the ball to the outside, then sent a strong cross to the far post where forward Chris Chapman angled a volley back across the goal mouth to the right side netting, a gorgeous goal.
The Mustangs threatened to add another score on a pair of free kicks. Justin Nielsen sent a ball into the box that Brause was able to clear in a scramble while the goalie Davis and Hidden Valley's Dean ended up in a clinch in front of goal. Then, in the 72nd minute, Brause was called for a foul just inches outside the penalty box, giving the Mustangs a free kick directly in front of Astoria's goal. The shot caromed into the wall, and a rebound shot trickled wide right where Davis was able to scoop it up.
Astoria had one more scoring opportunity at the end of the match. Mathias Brause took a throw deep in Hidden Valley's end, tossing it into the box where it was touched away and controlled by Smith just seconds before the final whistle.
Astoria (5-0-1) returns to league play Tuesday at Yamhill-Carlton. The Fishermen, despite the injury losses, are expected to run the table the rest of the season against the Cowapa League, likely taking an unbeaten record into the playoffs. The immediate future of Speer and Garcia is unknown, pending doctor's examinations this week.
HIDDEN VALLEY 0-1-1
ASTORIA 1-0-1
1stH-AST: Brause (Macareno CK) 2:00
2ndH-HV: Chapman (Shafer) 63:00
SHOTS-HV: 16 (Willie 5), AST: 11 (McMullen 2, Price 2)
SAVES-HV: 5 (Smith), AST: 9 (Davis)
CORNER-HV: 3, AST: 2
FOULS-HV: 7, AST: 12
YELLOW CARDS-AST: Macareno (73:00)
posted by Matt Richert at 9:20 AM
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