Email This   Larger Font      Print This   Smaller Font Advertisement   Camas 9, Nathan Hale 0 It was over when: Camas scored three goals in just more than five minutes to start the match.   What’s next: Camas (16-1-1) visits Mount Vernon (18-2) for a state quarterfinal match. The match is tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday. The Papermakers are shooting for their third consecutive trip to the state semifinals. Camas’ Quinton Beasley, right, takes on Nathan Hale defender Taylor Prskalo on Tuesday.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008
By Paul Danzer Columbian Staff Writer

CAMAS — For the five seniors on the Camas boys soccer team, the first round of the Class 3A state tournament made for quite a celebration.

Playing at Doc Harris Stadium for the final time this season, the Papermakers made quick work of the Nathan Hale Raiders on Tuesday, cruising to a 9-0 win that puts them into the state quarterfinals.

And, yes, it was that easy.

Brent Richards, named earlier Tuesday as the Gatorade Washington boys soccer player of the year, delivered a beautiful goal before the game was two minutes old. Only 5:10 had elapsed before Camas led 3-0, and the margin was 5-0 midway through the first half.

As was the case in Saturday’s 7-0 throttling of Bonney Lake in the bi-district playoffs, Camas was up 6-0 by halftime.

The next game could be a test. Mount Vernon (18-2) scored three times in the final 10 minutes to beat Yelm on Tuesday, and will be the next opponent for the Papermakers (16-1-1). That match will be at Mount Vernon on Friday or Saturday.

While the result was one-sided, it was the first goal — a perfectly executed corner kick — that infused the focused Papermakers with the energy to quickly end Tuesday’s tussle.

Evan Lehner, the senior left wing who had two goals and four assists in the game, sent a corner kick on a rope to the top of the 18-yard box, and Richards drove it home with a strong left-footed volley.

“It was a great cross. It came in perfectly,” Richards said.

The result was a picturesque goal.

“It’s definitely fun to have a pretty goal,” Richards said.

Camas coach Roland Minder certainly enjoyed the sight.

“Again, coming out and scoring in the second minute made all the difference, especially off a set play,” Minder said. “It really puts the other team on their heels and gives us energy.”

Camas makes fast starts a priority, and it certainly has been effective through two playoff matches.

“We came out really hard these last two games, and it’s paid off for us,” Richards said.

Quinton Beasley scored twice and had two assists for the Papermakers. Senior Steven Bunker, sophomore Wes Breitner, and freshmen Nick Palodichuk and Drew White also had goals.

Palodichuk, who missed most of the second half of the season with an injury, adds quickness and strength to the defensive midfield position. He demonstrated his ability in transition several times, including a run past four Raiders that resulted in his goal.

It was that kind of special night for the Papermakers — the veterans and the rookies.

And, yes, they’re having fun.

“I think we’re really coming together now and it’s great to have all this momentum heading into the quarterfinals,” said Richards, comparing the experience to the run the Papermakers made to the state title in 2006. “I think it’s going to help us. We have a lot of positive energy right now.”