The Columbia River boys soccer team has played with a flair for the dramatic in recent games.
A 5-4 win over Ridgefield on April 22 featured four goals in the final five minutes plus stoppage time. Last Thursday’s 2-1 win against Hockinson came down to the wire, with the Rapids converting a penalty kick in overtime.
So, a slow start to Tuesday’s game against R.A. Long was a scenario the Rapids were well-equipped to handle.
After facing a 1-0 halftime deficit, River overcame that initial shock by scoring three unanswered goals in the second half to claim a 3-1 win.
All-Region Sports Awards Ceremony
The Columbian will be hosting its second annual All-Region Sports Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at The Hilton Vancouver Washington.
The event will be 6-8 p.m. Admission is $15 and includes food and drink.
Tickets are available now by clicking on link.
The Rapids clinched the 2A Greater St. Helens League title on a night the they celebrated their 10 seniors at John O’Rourke Field.
“That first half, that’s not how we play,” River senior JP Guzman said. “We knew we could play much better than that, play our style of soccer and we did (in) the second half.
“We never give up.”
Guzman had the ball in an attacking position just 30 seconds into the second half when the senior sent in a cross into the middle that deflected off of an R.A. Long defender and into the net for an own goal.
The Rapids often talk about the importance of the “first five” minutes to start a half. The equalizing goal gave them the initial push they needed.
“I knew once we got one, the sky was the limit for us rest of the game,” Guzman said.
The Rapids’ back line kept the tie intact when center back Bryce Diaz stepped in to clear a shot on an open goal in the 64th minute.
That set up Johnny Avalos for the go-ahead goal two minutes later, a second-chance volley from straight on after R.A. Long saved River’s initial attempt.
Guzman added a goal in the 70th minute to put the game out of reach.
“It kind of comes from halftime (message), never stop going, play full time,” Avalos said. “It’s kind of my shot — the volley — so I just go in, smack it and it’s a goal. It really brings the momentum up and then we played solid the rest of the game.”
“In practice he always makes those,” Guzman added. “It was a great goal by him.”
In addition to securing the 2A GSHL title, River’s win avenged a season-opening loss to R.A. Long on March 14 — the Rapids’ only loss of the season thus far.
R.A. Long backed up that result with a strong start in the rematch, highlighted by Juan “Andres” Orozco’s 18th minute goal.
“Coming out in that first half the way that they did, they shocked everybody again, and we had to make sure that didn’t happen again in the second half,” River coach Matt Newman said. “The boys had an opportunity to prove it, and they did it today. Super proud of their energy.”
The Rapids reinforced their status as the kings of the 2A GSHL with a strong non-league resume to boot, claiming a win over top-ranked 4A Puyallup and a tie against 4A Camas.
The Rapids open the Class 2A District 4 tournament May 10 as the No. 1 seed.
“The group of the boys that we have (are) willing to put the work in — day in, day out,” Avalos said.
COLUMBIA RIVER 3, R.A. LONG 1
R.A. Long
Goals (assists) — Juan “Andres” Orozco (Sixto Soto). Goalkeeper saves — Raul Sanchez Vega 5.
Columbia River
Goals (assists) — Own goal, Johnny Avalos (Mason Renner), JP Guzman (Unassisted). Goalkeeper saves — Eli Smith 2 Aedan Pena 1.
Halftime — 1-0 R.A. Long.
JV — Columbia River 2-1.
