The Columbia High School Bruins soccer team remained undefeated after another week in Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Class 1A Trico league play. Newcomers to the league, Kalama High (0-7 in league), came to White Salmon on April 8 and were overwhelmed by the home side, 16-0.
The Bruins second game of the week proved much more difficult. On Thursday evening, CHS traveled to the La Center Wildcats (5-1-2 in league). The Bruin’s defense — anchored by Cole Wooding, Juan Santoyo-Luna and Bridger Gilchrist — struggled to adjust to the field conditions at Wildcat Stadium.
Midway into the first half, the Bruins defense failed to clear the ball out of the box on several attempts and eventually La Center forward Ian Johnson pounced on the ball and slotted it past Bruin goalkeeper Ricardo Cortez.
CHS went on the hunt in the second half but Wildcat goalie Logan Smith and center back Callum Bradley made several heroic stops. The Bruins equalized late in the second half when Ulices Huerta crossed a corner kick to Benson Zendt who finished the play for a goal and tied the game at 1-1.
The Bruins continued to press for a winning goal but were unable to find one. The tie on the game puts the Bruins at 5-0-1 in league.
This coming week the Bruins faced their most difficult challenge of the season on Monday at King’s Way Christian ranked No. 5 in the state. On April 16, CHS will travel to the Stevenson Bulldogs (2-6).
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