Columbia Bruins split two Trico girls soccer matches

THE GORGE – As it turned out, Columbia High School’s girls soccer team was 30 minutes away from a two-win week, but the Bruins had to settle for one win and one draw after host Castle Rock staged a second-half comeback on Sept. 30.

Columbia (2-4-1 overall) led 3-0 early in the second half of its match at Castle Rock, but some defensive lapses helped the Rockets earn the 3-3 draw. First-half goals from Leah Floria and Willow Cohen staked the Bruins to a 2-0 lead. It was 3-0 after Mariela Casarez converted a penalty kick early in the second half when Castle Rock was called for a handball in the box.

Things would get interesting after the host team started pressing on offense. Castle Rock capitalized on a long throw in, which Columbia failed to clear in front of its goal mouth. An oncoming Rocket player knee struck the bouncing ball over Bruin keeper Lani Uffelman with 18 and a half minutes remaining.

Ten minutes later a long through ball was misjudged by the Columbia defense, enabling a speedy Rocket forward to burst past, control and ball and score. Less than two minutes later the Rockets scored again, aided by another long, through pass.

Later in the week, there would be comebacks at Stevenson, as Columbia scored early and often against the Bulldogs in an 8-0 victory on Oct. 2. Kayla Friberg started the Bruin point barrage off an assist by Floria (who would add a goal of her own in the second half).

Casarez made it 2-0 on a well struck, 20-yard shot from the right side that settled into the back, upper left part of the net. She assisted on Columbia’s final goal of the first half, getting the ball to Cohen in space in midfield. The junior pushed the ball further toward the center and converted a left-footed shot into the right, low corner. Cohen added two more second-half goals.