Century boys lose to Columbia

More News Cops: Man had $25,000 in pot Working 2000 local cold case Molester's parole revoked Murder evidence re-analysis Lots to do here this weekend Funding mammograms Pumpkin patch picking Illegal immigration issue SNL features 'Bush,' 'Palin' Highland band seeks funds Benefit set for burned child 4 sentenced in meth case WWAMI inadequacies noted Pick your pumpkin Saturday Ski swap is this weekend Grain and livestock reports Sports Highland eases past Madison Century boys lose to Columbia Ariz. players commit to ISU

CALDWELL -- As soccer players and parents shuffled out of Brothers Park in Caldwell, Thomas Cawdery stood still.

With his bag over one shoulder, the Century senior set his gaze on the blue 4A state championship trophy on the table in front of him.

"I'm never going to see that," he said.

Not after this weekend anyway.

A day after beating a previously undefeated team, Century fell flat against Columbia, losing 3-0 on Friday in the boys' state semifinals.

The loss came a day after the Diamondbacks defeated Skyview in a 4-2 penalty-kick shootout in the first round.

"Taking on Skyview, we did use a lot of our energy," said Century coach Matt Looze. "We came in a little relaxed after that. We played hard. We just weren't quite in our game."

Century will play Jerome today in the third-place game. Columbia advanced to play Sandpoint in the championship game, with much thanks to midfielder Richard Quiroz.

The senior scored two goals -- his 33rd and 34th this season -- to key Columbia's victory. He led its surge early and gave Columbia a 1-0 lead on a penalty kick in the 27th minute.

But Century tested that one-goal lead with numerous chances in the opening minutes of the second half. In the 44th minute, junior Nicholas Rodriguez's throw-in pass slipped by two Columbia defenders in the penalty box and right to Cawdery's foot.

"I felt it go right over my foot," said Cawdery, who flicked the ball over the crossbar. "I knew it wasn't going in."

A minute later, Cawdery clanged a 25-yard shot off the crossbar. Twice in the game's final eight minutes he was denied on one-on-one plays by Columbia keeper Dustin Palmer.

It was his first chance -- his best chance -- that Century needed most, though. Just eight minutes after Cawdery's first close call, Quiroz slipped a shot between the legs of Century keeper Bryan Lynch to give Columbia a 2-0 lead.

Five minutes after that, Columbia junior Gabriel Ortiz settled a long pass down the left sideline, cut back toward the middle of the box and faked out Century defender Garrett Steinfeldt. With no one left to juke, Ortiz zipped a shot into the bottom right corner of the net.

Just like that, Columbia led 3-0.

"We just (needed to play) our game like we know we can play," said senior Talon Wyatt, who drew a red card for elbowing a Columbia player in the 71st minute. "We just didn't play up to our full potential."

Century played with 10 on the field until the game's final minute, when senior Gibril Omar drew what refs told Looze was a "soft red."

"We saw some frustration in the last few minutes," Looze said, "and I really can't blame them for it."

Century still can bring home a third-place trophy and individual medals should it defeat Jerome at 11 a.m. today at Brothers Park. Columbia's 4A championship game against Sandpoint will begin at the same time but at Syringa Middle School in Caldwell.

"I'm really disappointed that it's our senior year," said Cawdery, who played on the Century team that went two-and-out at state last year. "A medal is a medal, though, and it's something to remember."

Current Rating: 0 of 0 votes!

Rate File: Select Rating: * ** *** ****

Reader Comments

Submit a Comment

Commenting Rules

Report a Comment