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All-Region Girls Soccer: The Chief Chieftain

All-Region girls soccer player of the year, Columbia River’s Yaneisy Rodriguez.

By Joshua Hart, Columbian sports reporter
Published: December 12, 2019, 8:09pm

Yaneisy Rodriguez’s soccer career goes far beyond Columbia River.

She competes for FC Portland in the country’s premier youth league; she’s played against the Mexico U-20 National Team. But her high school team has had a profound impact on her development as an elite soccer talent.

“I think I learned how to listen,” said Rodriguez, The Columbian’s All-Region Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

Chieftain coach Filly Afenegus demanded a lot from his star senior. She played as many as six positions in a single game on occasion.

“She is the Swiss army knife of our team,” said Afenegus, who would beckon Rodriguez into the attack before sending her back to play defender minutes later.

“I’m really proud of my versatility,” Rodriguez said. “It can be a little confusing sometimes, but it’s definitely worth it to help the team succeed.”

Rodriguez was expected to be a leader. She was a key part of the Chieftains’ title her freshman season.

She helped guide the Chieftains to state semifinal appearances in her sophomore and junior seasons.

When Columbia River needed a goal on its way to the program’s fourth state championship, they called on Rodriguez.

The senior scored five goals in the playoffs, including three game-winners in the state tournament. Her long-range strike in the state championship game had the Chieftains raising a title trophy high.

“Going into club soccer, I wasn’t seen as much of a leader,” Rodriguez said. “But with all of the help of the coaches and girls at River, I started to become more vocal and supportive.”

Rodriguez’s final year included 25 goals and 16 assists. Late in games, she played defender and helped the Chieftains record 14 shutouts, three of which came in the 2A State Tournament.

Her prep career will be remembered as one of the more illustrious. She made the state semifinals all four years, bringing home two state titles, a runner-up and a third-place trophy. The Chieftains were 74-13-3 in Rodriguez’s four years.

But what sticks out to her more than all of that is what happened off the field for the Chieftains.

“The sleepovers we had as a team, and getting to see sides of people you wouldn’t see unless you spent time outside of soccer with them,” she said. “A lot of the girls may be quiet outside, but on the field are crazy and super aggressive. It’s great to see how everyone is changed by soccer.”

Rodriguez will remember the hard practices and the dedication it took to achieve the success. As the videos and photos flashed across the screen at the team’s postseason banquet, Rodriguez reflected on the time with the Chieftains.

“It was just really heartfelt and eye-opening to all the time and effort we put into winning,” she said.

Rodriguez recently decommitted from the University of Nevada, and is in search for a college spot. She one day dreams of competing for the Mexican National Team.

All-Region soccer

Rest of first team

Taylor Tinnon, Union

The Titans junior goalkeeper allowed just eight goals in 19 games for Union.

Macee Woods, Union

The Chico State signee helped anchor the Union defense, which allowed just eight goals.

Nina Allen, Mountain View

The Thunder senior was big part of Thunder defense that allowed 21 goals in 21 games.

Camille Darland, Union

The Western Oregon signee earned 4A GSHL Player of the Year as a Titan defender.

Luci Ianello, Columbia River

The junior defender returned to soccer and anchored a Chieftain defense that allowed nine goals in 22 games.

Kendall McGraw, Hockinson

The junior scored two goals and had 10 assists for the state-runner up Hawks.

Brooke Grosz, Hockinson

The versatile Western Washington University signee scored 15 goals and had seven assists.

Reggie Griffith, Columbia River

The junior midfielder scored 13 goals and had 10 assists in the Chieftains’ championship season.

Annika Farley, Ridgefield

The University of Portland signee had 22 goals and 16 assists for 2A’s third-place Spudders.

Brooke Weese, Ridgefield

The Concordia signee finished the season with 25 goals and 11 assists for the Spudders.

Olivia Fothergill, Mountain View

The University of Oregon signee scored 29 goals and had eight assists for the Thunder.

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Columbian sports reporter