UPDATE: Added information regarding the Shelton Invitational prep track and field event from Saturday.

Aberdeen locked up second-place in the 2A Evergreen Conference with a 2-1 comeback victory over Black Hills on Friday at Stewart Field in Aberdeen.

Needing a victory to clinch the league’s all-important No. 2 spot and a home district playoff game, 10th-ranked Aberdeen (10-2-1 overall, 9-2 2A Evergreen) came out flat and Black Hills (4-9, 4-7) took advantage, scoring a goal just eight minutes into the game.

Down 1-0 and nearly giving up a second goal after a Wolves shot rang off the post, the Bobcats settled in and got the equalizer when senior Daniel Guzman chipped a ball forward to fellow senior Miguel Martinez, who fended off a Wolves player and beat the keeper 1-on-1 to tie the game in the 28th minute.

In the second half, Aberdeen controlled the pace of play and held the bulk of possession and scoring opportunities.

The Bobcats made good on one of those chances when an Evan Cole throw in was flicked off of Guzman’s head toward Colby Mendoza, who finished off a shot inside the six-yard box in the 64th minute.

Led by defenders Alan Avalos and Javier Garcia and midfielders Evan Cone, Edwin Quintana and Carlos Mendoza, Aberdeen held off a late surge by Black Hills to pick up its fourth straight victory.

“We did not have any intensity in warm-ups and it showed when we put ourselves in a hole at the start,” Aberdeen head coach Larry Fleming said. “We will have to get a little more serious about how we prepare if we want to do any damage in the playoffs.”

With the win, Aberdeen locked up second-place in the league and will host a district quarterfinal game on May 10 (time and opponent to be determined).

The Bobcats close out the regular season against WF West at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday in Chehalis.

Aberdeen’s junior varsity team won 5-0 Friday afternoon.

Gio Castillo scored two goals with Angel Mendez, Austin Gomez and Juan Serrano scoring a goal apiece for the Cats.

Black Hills 1 0 — 1

Aberdeen 1 1 — 2

Scoring

First half — 1, Black Hills, 8th minute. 2, Aberdeen, Martinez (Guzman), 28th minute.

Second half — 3, Aberdeen, Mendoza (Guzman), 64th minute.

Elma 3, Tenino 1

Elma is now one win away from completing an undefeated regular season after defeating Tenino 3-1 on Friday in Tenino.

Elma (13-0-2, 13-0 1A Evergreen) took an early lead when Valencia Mendoza scored off an assist from Canon Seaberg in the fourth minute.

Elma took a 2-0 lead when Mendoza stole the ball then buried a shot in the back of the net in the 30th minute.

Tenino got on the scoreboard in the second half when Triston Whitaker scored off an assist by David Espinoza in the 74th minute.

But a ball off a Tenino defender went into the back of the Beavers net for an own goal in the 78th minute, giving Elma the 3-1 victory.

Elma closes out the regular season with a match against second-place Montesano at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Elma.

Elma 2 1 — 3

Tenino 0 1 — 1

Scoring

First half — 1, Elma, Mendoza (Canon Seaberg), 4th minute. 2, Elma, Mendoza, 30th minute.

Second half — 3, Tenino, Whitaker (Espinoza), 74th minute. 4, Elma, Tenino own goal, 78th minute.

Montesano 2, Ilwaco 1

After giving up an early goal, Montesano rallied to defeat Ilwaco 2-1 in boys soccer on Friday in Ilwaco.

The Bulldogs (10-3, 9-3 1A Evergreen) allowed a goal in the sixth minute to fall behind 1-0 early in the match.

But Levi Clements got the equalizer in the 19th minute as the two teams battled back and forth in an evenly matched contest.

Tied at 1-1 at halftime, it was Montesano’s top scorer that made the difference-making play in the game. Freshmen forward Felix Romero scored on a shot less than 10 minutes into the second half to put the Bulldogs up 2-1.

Montesano’s defense held firm the rest of the way to preserve the victory.

Shots were nearly identical for the two clubs, with Ilwaco (5-7, 5-6) holding a 12-11 edge while Monte held an 8-3 advantage in shots on-goal.

“We played a tough, defensive game and the boys executed the plan well,” Montesano head coach Fidel Sanchez said. “We had great defense tonight and better ball movement.”

Montesano hosts Hoquiam at 6 p.m. on Monday.

Ilwaco 1 0 — 1

Montesano 1 1 — 2

Scoring

First half — 1, Ilwaco, 6th minute. 2, Montesano, Clements, 19th minute.

Second half — 3, Montesano, Romero, 49th minute.

Hoquiam 5, Raymond-South Bend 0

Hoquiam lit up the stat sheet in a 5-0 win over Raymond-South Bend in boys soccer on Friday in South Bend.

Led by three first-half assists by junior midfielder Rene Garcia, Hoquiam (4-10, 4-8 1A Evergreen) got goals by Jalen Hobucket in the 26th minute, Mason Kelly in the 32nd minute and Roman Bedolla in the 34th minute to take a 3-0 lead at the half.

Hoquiam got goals by Daniel Cortez and Bedolla in the second half to earn the 5-0 victory.

“We are connecting our passes really well now and these guys are having fun on the pitch and it is a beautiful thing to see these guys connecting so well,” Hoquiam head coach John Johnson said.

Hoquiam plays at Montesano at 6 p.m. on Monday.

Raymond-South Bend (0-10, 0-10) hosts Forks at 6 p.m. Wednesday at South Bend High School.

Hoquiam 3 2 — 5

RSB 0 0 — 0

Scoring

First half — 1, Hoquiam, Hobucket (Garcia), 26th minute. 2, Hoquiam, Kelly (Garcia), 32nd minute. 3, Hoquiam, Bedolla (Garcia), 34th minute.

Second half — 4, Hoquiam, Cortez (Bedolla). 5, Hoquiam, Bedolla (Cortez).

PREP TRACK & FIELD

Locals win at Shelton Invitational

The Twin Harbors area had several winners and top-three placers at the 62nd Annual Shelton Invitational on Saturday at Highclimber Stadium in Shelton.

Winners included Hoquiam girls thrower Tyara Straka (shot put, 45 feet even; discus, 126-03), Aberdeen boys jumper Andrew Troeh (high jump, 6-02), Raymond girls jumper Kyra Gardner (high jump, 5-06) and Willapa Valley’s Lauryn McGough (pole vault, 11-00 PR).

Local second and third-place finishers included Ocosta’s William Idso (boys 200, 22.56 PR, 3rd; high jump, 6-02 ties school record, 2nd) and Matthew Idso (boys 400, 50.87 PR, 2nd); Aberdeen’s Tyler Bates (boys discus, 146-07, 2nd) and Julian Campos (boys 1600, 4:19.79, 3rd; 1 mile, 4:21.31 PR, 3rd), Willapa Valley’s Chris Western (boys pole vault, 13-00 PR, 3rd) and Raymond’s Kyra Gardner (girls 100 hurdles, 16.66, 3rd).

For full meet results, visit athletic.net.

NFL

Former Aberdeen Bobcat signed with Saints

Former Aberdeen Bobcat and Cincinnati Bearcat Joel Dublanko has signed a priority free agent contract with the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, according to his father, Craig Dublanko.

Joel, who went undrafted during the 2022 NFL Draft, played for Aberdeen High School from 2012-2015 and was named to the All-American Athletic Conference First Team as a linebacker this past season.