Longview soccer teams get the best of Washougal

Nicholas Erickson netted two goals in the second half to give Washougal hope heading into overtime, before Mark Morris earned 3-2 victory on a a golden goal Wednesday.

R.A. Long broke a stalemate with Washougal on a goal in the final seconds of the first half Friday, and went on to win 3-1.
The Lumberjacks chipped in two more goals in the second half, but the Panthers never gave up and were rewarded for their effort when Ryan Anderson knocked in a corner kick by Steven Salazar.

“I saw a lot of work and a lot of heart,” said head coach John Tyger. “We just kept pushing them and finally got a goal.”

Losing nine players to graduation after the 2015 season has been difficult for Washougal, but Tyger said these young Panthers are improving every game.

“The question is, are we going to gather the experience we need in a short amount of time,” he said. “Right now, these teams are just a step faster.”

There are some positives. Anderson and Deivid Gonzalez delivered two goals each in a 6-0 victory at King’s Way Christian March 21. Erickson and Jamison Wright scored the other two goals. Salazar and Christian Schicker provided assists.

Goalkeeper J.J. Dobles racked up seven saves for Washougal against R.A. Long. He made five of those saves during a frantic 10 minutes in the first half when the Lumberjacks were relentless in front of the net. He leaped up to punch the ball away and then dove across the goal line for another rejection on the same sequence. He also stretched out smothered a free kick at the goal.

“[Dobles] was tremendous,” Tyger said. “He became a goalkeeper tonight.”

Washougal (1-5) hosts Ridgefield Wednesday and goes to Woodland Friday. Both games start at 7 p.m.

“I have faith in these kids,” Tyger said. “You know they’re not going to quit, and that’s huge.”