North Marion ends The Dalles boys season in soccer quarterfinals

THE DALLES — The Tri-Valley Conference champion The Dalles High Riverhawks were seeking to reach the OSAA Class 4A boys soccer state tournament semifinals for the third time in the past three years, but North Marion ended those hopes with a 2-1 overtime quarterfinal win Nov. 8.

The game, played on the Hood River Valley High School’s artificial turf field, came down to penalty kicks, where the Huskies held a 3-2 advantage.

The Riverhawks, guided by head Coach Jesus Granados and assistant coach Matt Dallman, appeared to have a victory well within their sights early in the game. Following a scoreless first half, senior forward Juan Camarillo scored a goal in the 45th minute, putting the Riverhawks up, 1-0.

“I have to give credit to North Marion because they played good pressure defense and they made it really difficult for midfielders to get into scoring positions,” said Dallman. “They [Huskies] disrupted our offense and passing game very well with their effective press and we were not able to get anything going offensively in the first half. They knew what our strengths were and they were able to neutralize us offensively.”

The Huskies then got a game-tying goal with 2:47 left, and the contest remained deadlocked through two 10-minute overtimes sessions. A shootout followed with both teams having five penalty kicks. The Riverhawks converted two on shots by junior Gilberto Gallegos and senior Angel Morales.

“It was a very tough way to end our season. We just didn’t play our best game, but we were still able to lead for most of the second half,” Dallman said. “It was tough mentally and physically for us conceding a goal in the last two minutes.

“They [Huskies] got a huge confidence boost from scoring. It seemed like everyone on our team had a huge letdown, because we were so close to getting the win. We had some scoring chances in overtime, but we just couldn’t get a goal, and it was definitely a heartbreaking loss.”

Events prior to the match seemed to indicate the No. 2-ranked Riverhawks were due for a long playoff run. They were unbeaten all season — including a 2-2 tie to Seaside — and had reached the playoffs for a fourth straight year.

The No. 10-ranked Huskies (7-5-3) were the third-place team from the Oregon West Conference, which had four teams ranked in the top 10. (The Dalles was the lone TVC squad ranked in the top 10.) The Dalles had beaten North Marion, 3-2, in a nonleague match on Sept. 2.

The Riverhawks had additional momentum going their way following a Nov. 5 first-round playoff home win, 7-0, over the Cottage Grove High Lions (6-7). That win sent The Dalles into the quarterfinals for the third straight year.

Against the 16-ranked Lions, the Riverhawks had the momentum in their favor start-to-finish on a rainy day at the Wahtonka Campus field. The Lions, the third-place team from the Skyline Conference, fell behind 3-0 by halftime.

Camarillo and junior Ivan Santana each had a hat trick (three goals) to help lead the Riverhawks to victory — their ninth shutout of the year. Camarillo and Santana were the Riverhawks’ scoring leaders all season.

The Riverhawks were one win away from moving on to the semifinals. Prior to the North Marion game, the Riverhawks’ last setback was on Nov. 9, 2024, a 2-1 loss to the Henley High Hornets in the 2024 state quarterfinals at Henley High School in Klamath Falls.

For nine Riverhawk seniors, the loss marked the conclusion of their The Dalles High School soccer careers. Those players included Aaron Malpica Garcia, Oswaldo Torres, Marcos Meza, David Chavez, Camarillo, Patrick Rankin, Santiago Rodriguez, Daniel Cervantes and Morales.

Dallman said the senior group left a lasting impression on The Dalles’ program. “They all had such a strong role for our team this year offensively and defensively,” he said. “There’s going to be some holes for us to fill in the lineup next year for sure.

“I’ve coached the seniors since they were six-year-olds. I’ve watched them mature and grow into young men, which is just incredible. This was an especially tough loss for them … a tough way to go out for the seniors.”

North Marion advanced to the Nov. 11 final four and a matchup against the defending state champion and No. 3-ranked Henley (12-2-1) in Klamath Falls. North Marion has reached the semifinals for a fifth consecutive year.