For the second-consecutive game, the Montesano Bulldogs lost the possession battle.
But they won the war.
Luke Clements’ goal in the 32nd minute proved to be all the scoring the Bulldogs would need as Monte advanced in the 1A State Tournament with a 1-0 win over Northwest Christian (Colbert) on Friday at Jack Rottle Field in Montesano.
The second-seeded Bulldogs (19-1 overall) faced a Crusaders team that held possession and worked the ball through the midfield and down the left wing early in the first half, but struggled to get shots through once near the 18-yard box.
Despite losing the possession battle early on, Monte had the best opportunity to score in the first 20 minutes of play when a long free kick off the right foot of senior midfielder Mateo Sanchez was received behind the Crusaders defense by sophomore forward Felix Romero, who tried to slot a shot past oncoming Crusaders keeper Michael Siemens. Romero’s shot from approximately 35-yards away scooted just wide of the near post, keeping the game scoreless in the 15th minute.
The Bulldogs counter-attack would pay dividends when a hard shot by Romero was saved by a diving Seimens. The rebound popped out to the left of goal, where a trailing Clements raced to the ball and buried a shot into the open net for a 1-0 lead in the with just over eight minutes left in the first half.
PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano junior Luke Clements reacts after scoring a goal in the 32nd minute of the Bulldogs’ 1-0 victory over Northwest Christian (Colbert) during a 1A State Tournament game on Friday in Montesano.
“The goalie couldn’t keep a hold of it and I just got my left foot on there and under it,” Clements said of the play. “It felt exhilarating and it gave me the energy I needed as I started out a little slow. … That goal really gave me and my team energy.”
Monte nearly made it a 2-0 game on a controversial call late in the first half. Clements sent a high-arcing, cross toward the Crusaders net from the left wing. The ball sailed over a leaping Seimens and appeared to have tucked just inside the far post for Monte’s second goal of the game, but the ball was ruled to not have fully crossed the line, so play went on.
The remainder of the first half saw Monte gaining more possession while reducing offensive chances for the Crusaders as the two teams jostled for positioning in the middle two-thirds of the pitch.
After halftime, NWC utilized its possession game to consistently work the ball toward the top of Monte’s 18-yard box, where Crusaders attackers were met with a wall of Bulldogs defenders, making it difficult for NWC to get good shots through to Monte keeper Jayden McElravy.
Over the final 15 minutes and while aggressively pushing numbers forward, the Crusaders created three excellent scoring chances ending with hard shots from near the 18, but McElravy made diving save after diving save to preserve the 1-0 lead.
Monte’s defense continued to hold throughout the final minutes of the game and into an exhorbently long stoppage period that lasted nearly seven minutes, despite Monte coaches stating the referee informed them there would be four minutes of extra time.
But playing in a defensive shell, Montesano weathered the storm to take the game and advance into the quarterfinal round.
McElravy had 12 saves to record the clean sheet as he and the Montesano defense did a lot of heavy lifting on Friday.
PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano senior goal keeper Jayden McElravy made 12 saves to earn a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over Northwest Christian (Colbert) in a 1A State Tournament game on Friday at Jack Rottle Field in Montesano.
“Our game plan was to figure out who they used the most and try to shut down that side because most teams have a preferred side,” Clements said. “So we just had to figure out which side it was, and we did. So we just man-marked the right persons and just kept them out as much as possible and no crosses.”
Montesano head coach Fidel Sanchez said his team is finding ways to win despite other teams holding possession.
“We had a better first half than in the second half. I’m glad we were able to score that goal. After that, it was defend,” he said. “I’m just not happy with kicking the ball (downfield). We need to keep the ball longer and we have to be fair to Felix and not send him against four guys every time. … We haven’t put a game together in this playoff run yet. Imagine if we do. We’re winning the ugly games and that’s good. That’s grit and character. We got the win and that’s all that matters right now, just win and move on. It doesn’t matter how it happens.”
With the victory, Montesano advances to the quarterfinal round and will face a familiar foe in No. 7 Seton Catholic at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Montesano, the team Monte beat on penalty kicks in last weekend’s district-championship game.
“To be in the final eight is a great accomplishment for these boys, especially because they do not play club (soccer). Every team in the final eight has club players and (NWC) does not play like a 15 seed,” Coach Sanchez said. “I (told the players), ‘Go home, have a great dinner, hydrate and rest up. Be ready for tomorrow. It’s as simple as that.”
NWC 0 0 – 0
Montesano 1 0 – 0
First half – 1, Luke Clements, Montesano, 32nd minute.
Second half – none.
