The Heritage boys soccer staff stays undefeated within the 3A Larger St. Helens League.
And due to a clutch late purpose, the Timberwolves are on the cusp of a league title.
Elliot Maldonado headed in a nook kick within the remaining minute time beyond regulation, lifting Heritage to a 1-0 win over Evergreen on Friday night time at McKenzie Stadium.
“It feels great,” Heritage coach Davis Delamarter mentioned. “Elliott being able to put that away after getting hurt on the play right before it was huge. It just shows grit, and that’s what we want to teach these guys in high school — that good things come through grit and hard work.”
The Timberwolves introduced of lot of strain late within the regulation. However due to a number of pivotal saves in purpose by Evergreen goalkeeper Christian Perez Martinez, it appeared that Heritage could be headed to its second 0-0 draw of the week, tying Mountain View earlier within the week.
A possibility introduced itself within the remaining minute of regulation when the Plainsmen drew a purple card, which means they must play the ten minutes of time beyond regulation a person down.
And but, the Timberwolves nonetheless couldn’t discover the again of the online.
“The team gave everything they had,” Evergreen coach Keenan Burris mentioned.
However Heritage continued the strain, creating back-to-back nook kicks within the remaining minute of the second five-minute time beyond regulation.
And because the Timberwolves have finished all season, they used somewhat teamwork to supply the successful purpose.
Nicolas Garcia hit the nook kick into the gang of gamers in entrance of the Evergreen purpose.
Leonel Herrera-Malvaez bought the primary head on the ball, then Maldonado popped the ball over a diving Perez Martinez for the winner.
“It was a corner from my boy Nico,” Maldonado mentioned. “It popped over to my head, and I just popped it in over the keeper’s hands. Yeah, I’m glad it went in.”
As a substitute of being 4-0-2 within the 3A GSHL with one other draw, the Timberwolves moved to 5-0-1 and 16 factors, taking a six-point lead over Mountain View 3-2-1. Evergreen fell to 3-2 in league.
The Timberwolves can clinch the league title with a win over Prairie at residence on Tuesday.
“It feels great,” Maldonado mentioned. “Our team put a lot of effort, 100 percent. It was the last 10 (minutes) of overtime. You always have to put 100. We finally scored. We’ve been waiting for it. And now we’re going to go celebrate.”
