Clik here to view.
West Salem forward Stuart Aeschliman (9) gets past Lincolnâs Joseph Resnick (14) in the box during the OSAA Class 6A state championship game, Saturday, November 14, 2015, at Hillsboro Stadium in Hillsboro, Ore.
Clik here to view.
West Salem goak keeper Marcos Ochoa dives for a ball as it hits off the top bar against Lincoln during the OSAA Class 6A state championship game, Saturday, November 14, 2015, at Hillsboro Stadium in Hillsboro, Ore.
HILLSBORO – The set pieces were the Titans’ downfall.
West Salem High School’s boys soccer team gave up goals to Lincoln off of a corner kick and a free kick and lost 2-0 Saturday in the OSAA Class 6A state championship match at Hillsboro Stadium.
The Cardinals (17-2-1) had become known for their efficient work off of set pieces throughout the postseason.
“I watched some of their games and playing against them was just like that,” West Salem coach Eddy Soboll said. “We knew that it would be set pieces and that’s why we said we got to get tighter on them, we got to get on top of them.
“It’s not just the first ball on the set piece, it’s the second ball. That’s how they beat McMinnville. A mistake on the first goal, just not good enough. We could be a little bit sharper.”
It was the second meeting of the teams this season, and Lincoln (17-2-1) won 2-0 on Sept. 17.
A West Salem team that started the season 3-4-1 finishes the season 11-5-3 and in second place after its first appearance in the state championship game in program history.
This season was the first time the program moved past the state quarterfinals.
“With four seniors and not having (Rafael Saavera Garcia) in the beginning, not having Stuart (Aeschliman) in the beginning, it was a great season,” Soboll said. “These guys got to keep their heads up. They got to see what they did. They made history at West Salem. Next year we’re going to have seven or eight seniors. It’s going to be a different story.
“We didn’t expect even like to get to playoffs, and we did. It was a great run, great year. It was fantastic.”
Lincoln had several looks off of set pieces in the opening minutes then Carson Graham bent in a corner kick through the hands of West Salem goalkeeper Marcos Ochoa for a 1-0 lead in the third minute.
Twelve minutes into the second half a free kick from Max Rougier from 40 yards away was headed in by Ben Hardy for a 2-0 Lincoln lead.
It was the second time in school history that West Salem had a team in a state championship game, the last being the baseball team losing in the 2006 state championship game.
It also was the first time since 2009 a team from Salem was in the big-school state championship game.
“This is a representation of what CFC is doing for soccer in Salem,” Soboll said. “I don’t think we’re going to have to wait another few years to have a Salem team here in the finals.
“Year after year, it’s just getting better, the soccer in Salem. We’re competing head-to-head with the teams in Portland.”
bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler
At Hillsboro Stadium
LIN- Carson Graham (CK) 3:00; LIN- Ben Hardy (Max Rougier) 52:00.