Elliott Juarez takes aim at the net for the Camas-Washougal Fire, who defeated the FC Vancouver Rangers 2-0 for the high school boys silver championship Sunday at Doc Harris Stadium. Dan Trujillo/Post-Record

For seven years, the Clash at the Border soccer tournament has been a part of growing up in Camas and Washougal. Kids from the ages 8 to 18 look forward to playing these games in their own backyard every summer.

Like Brandon Defibaugh, who scored two goals in the finals to help lead the Camas-Washougal Fire to the boys high school silver championship. The Fire defeated the FC Vancouver Rangers 2-0 in a battle of Washington Soccer Academy teams.

“It’s a good way to go out in my last Clash at the Border,” Defibaugh said. “I’ve been doing them for the last eight years, ever since I’ve lived here.”

Fire coach Josh Juarez has seen both sides of the tournament, as a player up until he graduated from Camas High School and now as a coach.

“It’s a great tournament for all the local teams, and the other teams traveling here,” he said. “It’s just really beneficial for everybody.”

Igniting the Fire is Kyle Bliquez, Brandon Bush, Patrick Carlson, Daniel Cohen, Defibaugh, Andrew Harring, Elliott Juarez, Louis Lindner, Christopher Marrinan, Casey Martschinske, Joel Ohrt, Anthony Schleich, Conor Schwilke, Lucas Valenter and Tyler Yang.

“I really have a great time coaching these kids,” Juarez said. “It’s fun to watch them grow into good soccer players, and young men.”

Read the rest of the story in the June 30 issue of the Post-Record