For the second consecutive time, the Bearcats waltzed into Tumwater District Stadium and came away with a thrilling win, this time a 2-1 (4-3 PKs) verdict over the Thunderbirds in an Evergreen Conference contest.
Eleven months ago, W.F. West (6-4-1, 3-2 EvCo) beat Tumwater in the Class 2A District 4 semifinals on the road. Behind PK goal scorers Julian Casimiro, Alex Mathuzima, Rafa Mendez and Derek Galeana, it earned another signature win.
Now, those two plus Aberdeen are tied in the standings and Shelton is only a game back.
“Even when I was coaching at Black Hills, I don’t remember beating them at their place two times in a row,” Bearcats head coach Allen Anderson said. “Really happy with how the boys stepped up.”
Goalkeeper River Haydon notched two shootout saves to keep the Bearcats in front. Rewinding back to regulation, it was a scoreless game at the half until the Mendez brothers Joel and Rafa connected to put them up 1-0 in the 48th minute.
Tumwater (4-5-2, 3-2) tied the match three minutes later after a foul in the box and Malachi Vuong fired in a PK. It was a 40-plus minute stand still the rest of the way.
Tumwater will take on Shelton at home on Tuesday while W.F. West treks to Aberdeen, also on Tuesday, before welcoming arch rival Centralia next week. Anderson kept it pretty simple when describing the upcoming two game stretch.
“It is our biggest week of the season if we want to do something this year,” Anderson said.
