For as much parity as the Evergreen Conference had this spring, there never was a dominant team that ran away with the league title. Tumwater as the regular season champions to W.F. West in the No. 4 spot, the margin was five points in the standings.
Saturday proved the GSHL was a smidge better.
Tumwater, Centralia, Aberdeen and W.F. West all suffered close quarterfinal losses in the Class 2A District 4 tournament. The T-Birds lost to R.A. Long 3-2 in a barn-burner while the Tigers fell to Hockinson 2-1.
W.F. West (10-7-1) got a rematch with Columbia River from last year’s district title game and dropped a 2-0 verdict. Still, Bearcats head coach Allen Anderson was very pleased with the performance. He credited keeper River Haydon for some point-blank and a PK save.
“Definitely our best match against them since I’ve been here,” Anderson said.
Tumwater (7-8-2) was down 1-0 at the half to the Lumberjacks until senior midfielder Kaydon Hanks netted the equalizer in the 49th minute. Six minutes later, R.A. Long retook the lead and it added another goal in the 66th minute.
Centralia (10-8) couldn't take the momentum from Thursday’s dramatic pigtail winner into Saturday. It now will face Tumwater in an elimination game on Tuesday at Tumwater District Stadium. The T-Birds won both regular season matchups by a goal.
Meanwhile W.F. West will head to Aberdeen also on Tuesday in an elimination game. The sides split the two league meetings earlier this season.
