The Heritage youth soccer team's week can best be described as a busy one.
The Timberwolves played three games in five days and started off with two straight wins over Class 4A teams Skyview and Battleground.
This sets the stage for an intradistrict matchup against Evergreen on Friday's Senior Night at Heritage. The Timberwolves dealt with it calmly, and by the end of their 3-1 win over the Plainsmen, they agreed it was one of their best performances of the season.
The results came at a crucial moment. The team has three games left in his 3A Greater St. Helens League, and Heritage (10-2, 4-1) is currently just one point behind first-place Mountain View in the standings. I am.
“This is a great performance for us,” Heritage senior Pablo Sanchez Barboza said. “We lost to Mountain View the last league game we played, but I think we’ve worked since then to come back harder and stronger. This proves it on the field. I think I did.”
Sanchez-Barbosa scored two of the Timberwolves' three goals, including an eighth-minute penalty kick where he collided with Evergreen goaltender Cristian Perez and drew a foul. The senior captain similarly started the second half with a free kick from over 30 yards out.
But Heritage's one-goal lead was far from safe as Evergreen's Diego Bejar scored a goal a few minutes later on an assist from Chris Crews.
That was until stoppage time, anyway, when Heritage junior Devin Thomas provided the exclamation point. Sánchez Barbosa took a free kick from the left, which found its way into the opposite corner near sophomore Aldo Herrera Malvaez, who swung a pass into the box that Thomas connected with for the winning goal. Ta.
Thomas said he was simply happy to be able to help senior national team teammates Hakim Keita, Marcos Tovar Martínez, Kenan Zerkanovic, Luis García Guerrero and Sanchez Barbosa win on the night.
“It was amazing,” Thomas said. “It was really cool to actually hit the ground running and see how many people were supporting us and give them what they wanted.”
With Heritage coach George Moya's advantage, the Timberwolves rose to the occasion in a rivalry game that required a little more intensity, physicality and strategy. He said this year's team also has strengths that will help in games like Friday, namely a bench full of talented players who can provide fresh legs.
“The advantage of this team is we have depth on the bench,” Moya said. “So when you're thinking about what's missing in your starting lineup, you can look to the bench to change that. I have faith in them and I believe they can do it.” And when you're in doubt, go back to the bench, because we have that depth. We're blessed with that.”
Confidence instilled throughout the program as the Timberwolves went undefeated in 2023, winning their first 3A GSHL title in 19 years and qualifying for the 3A Bi-District Playoffs.
They picked up where they left off by winning their first seven games this spring, but lost back-to-back games to Mountain View and Union, one of the top-ranked 4A teams. However, after a busy week with three straight wins, the Timberwolves are in a good position heading into the final week of the regular season.
“I think we went into the season very confident,” Sánchez Barbosa said. “We hit some bumps, but I think we’re back on track.”
Heritage 3, Evergreen 1
ever green
Goal (assist) – Diego Bejar (Chris Cruz)
Goalkeeper saves — Christian Perez 2. Standout players of the match — Jose Suarez, Chris Cruz.
heritage
Goals (assists) – Pablo Barbosa-Sanchez (penalty kick), Barbosa-Sanchez (free kick), Devin Thomas (Aldo Herrera Malváez).
Goalie Saves – Jackson Graham 1, Eli Schenker 2. Outstanding match of the match – Leonel Herrera Malvaez.
Halftime — Heritage 1-0.
JV — Heritage 4-3.
