CAMAS — The route to the 17th consecutive state tournament berth for the Camas boys soccer program was up the right wing.
The Papermakers turned three crosses from the right flank into goals on Tuesday to beat Mountain View 3-0 at Doc Harris Stadium in the Class 4A District 4 championship match.
The result means the Papermakers (16-0-1) will host a first-round state playoff match, likely either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.
Mountain View will face Evergreen at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Doc Harris Stadium to determine the district’s second entry into the state tournament.
Camas beat Mountain View 5-1 on March 30 and 3-0 on April 24. All those victories did was help Camas clinch the regular-season Class 4A Greater St. Helens League title. The Papermakers needed to beat the Thunder a third time on Tuesday to claim a district title and guarantee another state tournament berth.
Two goals from Bennett Lehner and one from Cameron Eyman got the job done.
The fact that all three finishes came off well-placed crosses from the wing was both a bit surprising and encouraging, Lehner said.
“Those goals show that we have a lot of chemistry and that we can play together and we’re all on the same page,” the senior forward said. “Those are good goals to score.”
The first came in the 26th minute when Lehner’s run to the back post met a perfect cross from Danny Wing.
Twelve minutes into the second half it was 2-0 when Cameron Eyman close-range header connected with a cross from right back Lucas Ulmer.
Mountain View did create a few chances. A strike from distance by Ahmon Afenegus in the second half forced Camas goalkeeper Brian Murray into a leaping tip save. But Camas had more possession and despite missing several quality chances in the second half ended any remaining suspense with nine minutes left as Lehner connected with a Jakob Cavin cross for the third goal.
Probing up the right wing was part of the Camas plan, but coach Roland Minder was pleasantly surprised with the execution.
“I was really kind of surprised that all three goals came off of excellent crosses and finishes tonight,” Minder said, noting that combination play has produced more goals than crosses this season.
Though the Camas lead was only 1-0 by halftime, Lehner said the Papermakers were comfortable.
“We’ve gone into half 1-0 multiple times this year and we’ve always come out in the second half and put in two, three, four goals,” Lehner said.
One exception was a scoreless draw with Union to finish the regular season — the only match the Papermakers didn’t win. Lehner said they spent the week between that draw and Tuesday’s match working on the connections between the midfielders and forwards.
“I would say that we’re calm and composed and we’re rolling,” Lehner said.
Into a 17th consecutive state tournament.
Evergreen 3, Battle Ground 2 — The Plainsmen eliminated the Tigers in Tuesday’s loser-out match at Camas. Levan Zhividze assisted on goals from Eustacio Coronel and Quentin Petcu for a 2-0 halftime lead for Evergreen. Sean Fierst scored a second-half penalty kick to counter Battle Ground goals from Brennen Wonnacott and Bryce Lundeen.
