Coming into senior night Thursday, expectations for the Hood River boys soccer team couldn’t be higher. The squad was riding a four-game win streak when it surrendered only two goals and outscored their opponents by 27.
The Dalles Riverhawks, on the other hand, were experiencing a roller coaster season and searching for a season-defining game. The teams played to a 2-2 draw.
The Hood River Valley boys soccer team renewed its rivalry with the Hillsboro Spartans on Sept. 14, when the No. 8 Spartans traveled to HRV for matchup of elite soccer programs. Since 2014, the Eagles have won two 5A state championships and advanced to the quarterfinals in all but one year. The Spartans have also qualified for the playoffs every year, with two trips to the semifinals.
During the 2017 fall sports season, the Hood River Valley boys soccer team was the subject of Stick Figure Studios film crew’s documentary that showed behind the scenes of the Eagles’ campaign for another state championship.
Ridgeview came from two goals behind in the second half, then survived a scoreless overtime before defeating host Hood River on penalty kicks to win the Intermountain Conference season-ending boys soccer tournament, 3-2, Friday at Henderson Stadium.
Before last year, the Hood River Valley boys soccer program had won its season opening game for four straight seasons. But in the past two years, the boys have found themselves behind 0-1 heading into the second game of the season.
