Defense saves the day for Camas

The Camas girls soccer team lives to fight another day.

Fierce winds and the Bellarmine Prep Lions made things difficult, but the Papermakers prevailed 1-0 in the first round of the state playoffs at Doc Harris Stadium Wednesday.

Carla Jooste headed in a long free kick from Perri Belzer to give Camas a 1-0 advantage in the 33rd minute.

“I just kind of threw my head out there and went for it,” Jooste said. “I think I directed it pretty well, but it was a great ball from Perri.”

Belzer served the ball low, just hoping somebody would get on the end of it. After Jooste headed it in, Belzer ran right to her and gave her a big hug.

“We were all just so excited because that goal was obviously the determining factor in the outcome of this game,” Belzer said.

Head coach Roland Minder said it was good for the Papermakers to get that goal against the wind. It was also fun to watch.

“It was the perfect serve. The perfect touch on the ball. Just textbook,” Minder said. “You couldn’t ask for anything better. It was beautiful.”

Bellarmine Prep applied pressure with two free kicks at the net in the final four minutes, but Camas defended them both. Goalkeeper Falissite DePasquale reached up to deflect the first free kick. She then gobbled up the ball to prevent a second shot on goal.

“Towards the end of the game, there’s always going to be pressure on your goal in some way or another,” Minder said. “You really have to stand tough. You know you’re going to get hammered a bit.”

The Lions got one more chance in crunch time, but the Papermakers headed the ball out.

“We were just telling each other to go hard and give it all you have because it could be the last game,” Belzer said. “Thankfully, it wasn’t.”

Camas hosts Skyline in the state quarterfinals Saturday, at Doc Harris Stadium. The game starts at 6 p.m. Only the winner will advance to the Final Four.

“I think we are just going to go in with the same attitude,” Belzer said. “Have respect for their team and play our hearts out.”