A goal off a corner kick in overtime proved to be the difference in Aberdeen’s 1-0 loss to W.F. West on Tuesday at Stewart Field in Aberdeen.

The Bobcats (3-2 overall, 0-1 2A Evergreen) and Bearcats (2-3, 1-1) battled through two scoreless halves of regulation, with W.F. West controlling play in the first half with an effective attacking midfield and Aberdeen play in the second half, creating multiple prime scoring opportunities over the final 40 minutes of the game.

Despite playing in its defensive end for much of the first half against a relentless Bearcats offensive attack, Aberdeen’s defense prevented W.F. West from getting effective shots on goal.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Aberdeen’s Angel Espinosa (4) and forward Edgar Ceja (14) defend a shot by W.F. West’s Israel Lopez Cruz during the Bobcats’ 1-0 loss on Tuesday at Stewart Field in Aberdeen.

It wasn’t until early in the second half that Aberdeen junior goal keeper Grady Osina was challenged when a dangerous cross was skipped across the front of the goal, but Osina dove to get a hand on the ball and deflect it away to keep the game scoreless.

From that point on, Aberdeen had the better attack and offensive chances, including a well-placed cross by junior Cristian Lopez that just missed connecting on a one-timer with 18 minutes left to play.

A few minutes later, Bobcats senior forward Elmer Torres split two defenders and sent a flick shot past Bearcats keeper Noel Montenegro, but just wide of the net to keep the game scoreless.

“The main thing was just being more aggressive and winning the ball,” Aberdeen head coach Larry Fleming said. “All the 50-50 balls and any chance we had to win the ball it seemed like we were winning it in the second half. Once you start doing that you get a team that starts to back up a little bit, they get one their heels and (W.F. West) couldn’t get back on their front foot. … They kept getting by in the first half on the right foot, but once we shut that down, they didn’t get many opportunities in the first half.”

Late in the game, a corner kick by Aberdeen senior midfielder Leo Garcia was nearly bicycle-kicked into the net by Torres, but Montenegro leaped straight up to get a hand on the ball and deflect it away.

On the ensuing corner kick, a loose ball inside the 18-yard box bounced over to Garcia, who took a dribble to his right before going down to the ground on what Aberdeen players and coaches felt was a foul, which would have given the Bobcats a penalty kick.

But the Cats did not get the call as play went on and the ball was eventually cleared by the Bearcats defense.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Aberdeen defender Trino Villar (17) defends against W.F. West’s Israel Lopez Cruz during the Bobcats’ 1-0 loss on Tuesday at Stewart Field in Aberdeen.

“It’s too bad. I thought we really earned that PK,” Fleming said. “Leo made a great move, he got his leg taken out from under him, he fell, the (defender) got no ball, it’s too bad. That seemed pretty clear cut.”

Late in the first overtime, a Bearcats offense that struggled to find much success in the second half, made the most of a set-piece opportunity.

W.F. West midfielder Alex Mathuzima took a corner kick and sent a low, diagonal pass toward senior midfielder Isarel Lopez Cruz near the top of the 18-yard box.

Cruz struck a hard one-timer inside the near post for a golden goal, handing Aberdeen a 1-0 loss in the Bobcats’ 2A Evergreen Conference opener.

Aberdeen was outshot by the Bearcats 14-6, despite the Bobcats having arguably the better chances, and Aberdeen was hit with 16 foul calls to just five for the Bearcats.

“That (missed penalty call) was not the only thing that could’ve went for us in the game,” Fleming said. “How many shots did we get in that second half that we put over or didn’t get a good shot off? We had some great chances. I’m really happy with our effort and I’m glad we turned it around (in the second half). … I think (W.F. West) is going to be one of the better teams in the league. I’m glad at least we showed that we could stay with them.”

Fleming commended the defensive play of Bobcats Ryker Scott, Angel Espinosa, Edgar Ceja, Trino Villar and Osina.

The Bobcats junior varsity team tied 1-1 on Tuesday. Julio Hernandez scored the lone goal for Aberdeen JV.

Aberdeen takes on Black Hills in a league matchup set for 7 p.m. on Thursday in Tumwater.

W.F. West 0 0 1 – 1

Aberdeen 0 0 0 – 0

Scoring

First half – none.

Second half – none.

First overtime – 1, W.F. West, Lopez Cruz (Mathuzima), 84th minute.