Senior Ivan Cortes (second from right) proved to be a difference-maker last Friday in his first match for CHS since 2014. Cortes scored four goals and had an assist as the Bruins downed Washougal, 5-2.
Senior Ivan Cortes (second from right) proved to be a difference-maker last Friday in his first match for CHS since 2014. Cortes scored four goals and had an assist as the Bruins downed Washougal, 5-2.
Ivan Cortes wasn't part of last year's CHS boys soccer team that advanced to the WIAA 1A tournament for the eighth consecutive time. The senior midfielder made his presence on this year's team felt early on during last Friday's non-league season-opener in Bruin Stadium, however.
Cortes netted a pair of goals and Yvan Escoto scored one in an active first half for the Bruins, who took a 3-0 lead before the Panthers put in a late goal to make it 3-1 at the intermission. The Bruins also controlled play in the second 40-minute half on the way to a 5-2 victory for seventh-year Bruins Director Christopher Cramer.
Cortes, the 2014 Trico League most valuable player after a terrific sophomore season, attended the Portland Timbers Academy last year. It was obvious from the first eye test that Cortes had matured physically and mentally during his year away. He finished with four goals and an assist.
“With that performance, Ivan demonstrated what a difference-maker he is for us.”
Cortes’s old teammates, too, looked more seasoned and confident, even those playing in new positions – like junior Brady Trullinger. The reigning Trico defensive MVP has moved to the center midfield position for 2016 while senior Ulices Isordia has taken over as the team's defensive stopper. Isordia is out for soccer for the first time at CHS, but he didn't play like a rookie last Friday.
Isordia earned Cramer’s defensive player of the match kudos. “Ulices earned a starting spot off the bat,” Cramer said. “He showed leadership and really took control back there” on the defensive line.
The Bruins got on the scoreboard with a diving header by Yvan Escoto off a Cortes assist at the outset. Cortes made it 2-0. Erick Ramirez got the assist.
Cortes later stole the ball from the defense, dribbled in and beat the keeper with a left-foot shot to the far post.
Washougal scored with 30 seconds left in the half off a nicely executed set-play throw-in into the box: a bang-bang play.
Less than 3 minutes into the second half, Washougal struck again to pull within 3-2.
“That was probably the most nerve-wracking period of the game,” Cramer said. “They were pressing us hard and were all over the ball.”
The Bruins doubled its lead in the 50th minute when Cortes knocked in a penalty kick that resulted when the referee called a take down foul in favor of Mario Gonzalez during a corner kick attempt.
A minute later, Washougal earned a foul but badly missed a penalty kick that could have evened the score.
“At that point is when the game turned in our favor,” Cramer said. “We got more of the ball and more of the attack.”
Cramer said the match got “choppy” for the next 20 minutes, as neither team could muster its forces to the attack.
That changed in the 70th minute when Cortes added an insurance goal after receiving a well-placed direct ball down the middle from Isordia.
Overall, the Bruins did not control the game “as much as I expect as the season goes on,” Cramer said, but he was “impressed with the way we went out and competed physically. We were challenging and winning 50/50 balls in the air, which is something we usually struggle with early in the season.”
In other news, CHS received a forfeit from La Center on Tuesday stemming from an incident involving the La Center soccer team. The penalty administered by the school resulted in the cancellation of Tuesday’s scheduled 1A Trico League match.
“We get the win, but it’s not how we wanted it,” Cramer said. “It’s a missed opportunity for us, so we’re bummed about that. But it’s also a teachable moment for our team, that this is something that could happen to us if we aren’t totally committed to what we’re trying to accomplish.”
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