On October 26th, 2023, the Central Panthers Varsity Boys Soccer faced the Woodburn Bulldogs with anticipation of a tough match.
Central and Woodburn share arguably the toughest conference, 5A-3 Mid-Willamette, and Woodburn held 1st in the 5A division and had a history of obtaining several state championships, making them a fierce competitor for the Panthers. Despite Central holding a losing streak, the Panthers were equipped to fight one last time at home.
After a building talk in the locker rooms, the Panthers stepped onto the field and started their warm-up. Noting the day as a senior night, the following seniors were called to receive heartfelt congratulations and gifts from the parents and team:
Carter Holt (#1), Mateo Gonzalez (#3), Octavio Cruz (#5), Gerardo Jasso (#7), Abel Chavez (#8), Sebaztian Nunez (Captain, #11), Cristian Diaz (#14), Jose Pantoja (#15), Jose Zacarias (#16), Kim Franciolli (#17), Koya Krummel (#18), Gabriel Pedraza (#19), Luis Delgado (#22), Jayro Parroquin (Captain, #30).
With spirited decorations prepared by a dedicated supporter, Shawn Guill, and parents and volunteers, the stadium held tremendous energy.
Kickoff: at 19:00, the ball is passed by Pedraza to Jose Espericueta, who launched it to the opposing half. Soon after, a corner kick was awarded to Woodburn but cleared by the defensive line. The duel in the Panther half of the field was continuous throughout, with occasional chances to break into Woodburn's defensive midfield.
One of the strategies used by Jose Becerra, head coach of Central, was to slow the game down to Central's pace. He saw Woodburn as tending to play in a fast-paced game, and slowing the game down, allowed Central to unbalance and frustrate Woodburn, proving an effective strategy seen by the increase in fouls and mistakes by pressure.
In the 25th minute, Central won a free kick on the 30th-yard line. Espericueta takes it and lobs it completely to the top of the Woodburn goal, causing the goalkeeper to block. Failure to catch the ball allows Pedraza to place it to the bottom left of the goal, gaining a 1-0 lead for the Panthers.
Central gained momentum and the energy peaked from the team, coaches, audience, and exceptional student section. While keeping a solid formation of 4-3-3 in the remaining time, they secured the lead for the first half. Their focus continued into the second half as Woodburn kicked off. With Central connecting and communicating at every second, the energy in the stadium continues with an increased chance of a Central breakthrough.
In the 60th minute, Woodburn won a corner, threatening to score. The ball was lobbed into the penalty box, and Woodburn's Guzman (#10) went, missing to the right of the goal. Later on, Woodburn won another corner, but after several duels, the ball was cleared out. In the 89th minute, the stadium was feeling the pressure. With a minute lasting forever, Woodburn wins a final corner with 15 seconds left. With everyone's eyes on the ball, it is kicked but successfully cleared by the Panthers.
The buzzer rang, and seconds later, the Panthers ran in to celebrate. The match ended with an official score of 1-0, a historic win for the Panthers as they had never beaten Woodburn before in their history of playing. The stadium instantly fills with supporters as pictures and celebrations take place.
This result should have kept Central on track for the playoff bracket, with their last qualification occurring in 2018. However, according to calculations by the OSAA, Central was not officially included. They held a strong overall record of 7 wins, 4 ties, and 3 losses, and secured a win against the #1 team, which would have raised the ranking. Despite that, Central will finish the season with hopes of a second alumni game happening shortly, this time with students versus alumni.
A controversial ending, but certainly one historical season that proved many hopeful qualities. Coaches believe Central Soccer is changing its trajectory for the future into an unforgettable season.
Article written/pictures taken by Koya Krummel and published by the Central Tribune.