Because the easternmost member of the Trico League, each away recreation for the Columbia-White Salmon boys soccer staff is a highway journey.
So it’s factor that their bus driver, Invoice Fulton, is the Bruins’ No. 1 fan.
“We live really far,” senior Isaac Reynoso mentioned. “We don’t live in like Vancouver. We’re out really far, so every game is like two hours or three hours to drive, so we got to make worth it for him.”
The Bruins did that on Saturday with Reynoso punching within the profitable aim in stoppage time, lifting Columbia to a 1-0 win over Seton Catholic within the 1A District 4 championship recreation.
It’s the second straight district title for the Bruins.
“It means everything to us and our community,” Reynoso mentioned. “We have so many fans here, and we did it for them. We’ve had a lot of injuries, and we’ve never had a healthy team. And we’re just so happy to do it for them and our community.”
The Bruins’ followers needed to wait 79 minutes to lastly have the ability to have a good time.
The Bruins and Cougars battled out a decent match, similar to the groups’ earlier two conferences — a 1-0 win for the Bruins and a 1-1 draw.
“Seton Catholic is a really good team,” Columbia coach Gio Magana mentioned. “We respect them. It’s always a good game against them. … Sometimes, luck is in on our side I think. Both teams competed really well, and I’m just glad we found the back of the net before overtime.”
The profitable play began with a free kick from midfield by Ulices Huerta.
The ball sailed to the correct of the aim the place freshman Benson Zendt bought a contact on the ball to place it in entrance of the aim, the place Reynoso transformed with a header.
“The ball came in, and it was a little over my head,” Zendt mentioned. “I lost it. It bounced. I thought it was going out. I just did what I could to put it back in the goal, and (Reynoso) finished it.”
Reynoso added: “I saw the ball in the air, and I was just like ‘I’m not to going to let the opportunity go.’ I was going to at least connect with it. And I headered it and saw it touch the back of the net. And then next thing I knew, we were celebrating.”
Reynoso led the celebration by stripping off his jersey, then sprinting shirtless over to the observe in entrance of the Columbia followers.
“It was amazing,” Zendt mentioned.
Among the many followers cheering on the Bruins was bus driver Invoice Fulton.
“Bill has been a fan for years,” Magana mentioned. “He always wants to be the one to take us on every road trip. He’s always with us. He’s always wearing his Bruin colors. That’s why we feel like he’s part of the team.”
Afterwards, as gamers have been posing for pictures for the followers and household, they made certain they bought one with Fulton holding the trophy.
Magana mentioned it’s all a part of the total assist of the group the Bruins obtain each match.
“When we win, when we lose, whether it’s three hours away or an hour, rain or shine, they’re always there,” Magana mentioned. “We’re really happy we have them behind us. It’s probably the greatest high school fan base I’ve seen in the state.”
If Columbia is seeded within the top-four seeds by the committee on Sunday, the Bruins received’t need to open the state playoffs with one other lengthy journey.
“Last year, I feel we were right there between a 4 and 5, and we ended up traveling,” Magana mentioned. “And I think this year, we deserve to be at least top 3. … We did more than enough. We haven’t lost a single game this season, and I think they’re going to see that when the seeding comes out.”
And in the event that they get to host a state playoff recreation — or two — the Bruins hope to have even a extra fan assist in White Salmon.
“That would be amazing,” Zendt mentioned. “That’s the dream. That’s the dream.”
ROCHESTER 1, LA CENTER 0 — The Wildcats’ bid for a state-playoff berth ended with a loss to the Warriors in a winner-to-state recreation on Saturday
