Marist tops The Dalles girls in 4A soccer state title match

THE DALLES — The Dalles High (TDHS) girls soccer team’s magical run came to an end in the OSAA 4A state title match, as top-seeded Marist Catholic of the 4A Sky Em League took down the second-ranked Riverhawks, 2-0, on Nov. 15 at Liberty High School in Hillsboro.

It was a historic season for the Riverhawk girls team, which advanced to the state semifinals — and final — for the first time in school history. The Dalles won its semifinal match in the closing seconds, 2-1, against Scappoose on Nov. 11.

4A State championship match recap

The Marist Spartans (17-1-1) and Riverhawks (17-1) battled throughout the first half, and neither squad gave way as the game was tied 0-0 at halftime. However, Marist grabbed control of the match early in the second half as Libby McLaughlin found Piper Paslay for a goal to make it 1-0 Spartans with four minutes off the clock.

Later in the half, McLaughlin found the back of the net herself as she scored on a penalty kick to make it, 2-0, Marist at 58 minutes.

Marist, led by head Coach Stefan Schroffner, has won back-to-back 4A girls soccer state titles. This was also the school’s fourth straight title game appearance.

Marist outshot The Dalles, 28-7, and held a 16-3 advantage in shots on goal. The Dalles keeper Oliva Prado had 14 saves.

4A Semifinal match recap from Nov. 11

Senior midfielder Natalia Elias got on the board first with a goal that dropped right over the top of the Scappoose goalie with 30:57 left to make it 1-0 Riverhawks. The goal was set up by a long free kick.

Scappoose responded later in the half, as senior forward Amalie Anderson chipped in a goal for the Indians with 15:33 left to make it 1-1.

Both squads demonstrated their defensive prowess for the rest of the half, and the scoring drought continued for most of the second half. As the clock ticked down, the match officials started to prepare for overtime. However, junior forward Ariana Gonzalez had different plans.

With four seconds left in the match, Gonzalez gained possession of a loose ball in the box and converted her game-winning goal to give the Riverhawks the edge, 2-1.

“We really had to push through in the last seconds,” said Gonzalez. “I was even thinking when I scored, I just knew we had to get it in. We had to.

“This [opportunity] means so much. I feel like we’ve been wanting it for so long and pushing every year all through summertime, and now we’re here. We just have to push and give it our all.”

Riverhawk Coach Colby Tonn reflected on the team’s historic season. The Riverhawks had five seniors — Natalie Eilas, Abril Rincon, Naima Dominguez, Katie Quevedo, and Jaki Negrete — who played their final season for the crimson, gold, and black Riverhawks. “This school’s never made it to the semifinals before, so this was a first,” Tonn said. “Even when these seniors were sophomores and the juniors were freshmen, we had never made it to the quarterfinals. So, this is now three years in a row we’ve gone as far as anyone in school history.

“It’s great for the community. It’s great for the younger girls and the fans who are looking up to these players, just knowing that they can do it if they just work hard, stick together, and play for their community.”