SHORELINE — The celebration following Columbia River’s 1-0 win over Selah in Friday’s 2A State semifinals said everything about the Chieftains’ mindset entering the weekend. This was strictly business.
A team that’s been to the stage each of the past four years, Columbia River secured its place in Saturday’s 4 p.m. championship game against Hockinson. It’s the Chieftains’ third title-game appearance in the past four years. They will seek the school’s fourth state title and first since 2016.
“We’re super excited, but we still can’t get too comfortable,” senior Julia Cash said. “We’re going to celebrate, but still get in the right mindset for tomorrow.”
After a back-and-forth opening 40 minutes, the Chieftains (20-1) settled into their style of play: possession, attacking the corners with speedy runs and finding dangerous playmakers in the middle of the field. The Chieftains’ experienced leaders took some credit for the halftime adjustment.
“Our coach gives us the option: ‘Do you want me to talk to them, or do you want the team to talk to them,’” Cash explained. “It was like ‘I think it’s our turn.’ I think it motivated us.
But on tired legs, Columbia River’s veteran group had to dig deep. In the 49th minute, Shalece Easley took a bouncing pass and lobbed it to the corner. Julia Cash somehow chased it down and sent it into the box. Yaneisy Rodriguez was waiting, wide open from 15 yards. The Division I prospect doesn’t often miss from there, and she didn’t Friday, scoring the game-winner by drilling it into the undercarriage of the netting.
“At that point, I was feeling hurt, I was feeling the pain, I was feeling fatigued,” Cash said. “But I had this feeling, this perfect feeling that I had to make that extra run.”
Easley was later injured in the game, prompting the Selah (19-2) players to pray for the senior striker after the game as both teams huddled together, the 1-0 scoreboard flashing behind them of little matter at that point. Easley walked off the field and didn’t appear to have any severe injury.
“We’re just ecstatic and just thankful that we got to play an amazing team that was supportive of us even after the win,” Rodriguez said.
The Chieftains know the short turnaround for Saturday’s game is a massive challenge. Coach Afenegus’ prescription is always chocolate milk and lots of sleep, as he asked his leadership group to make sure that happened back at the hotel.
After all, this is business for Columbia River.
COLUMBIA RIVER 1, SELAH 0
Columbia River
Goal (assist) — Yaneisy Rodriguez (Julia Cash); Goalkeeper saves — Allison Countryman 2.
Selah
Goalkeeper saves — Madysen Muir 7.
Halftime — 0-0.
