The Centralia boys soccer team came back from a two-goal hole but couldn’t hold its spot, falling to Shelton 4-3 on a late goal Monday.
The Tigers took an immediate lead, with Leo Perez getting on the end of an Angel Rojas assist in the very first minute, but gave it back immediately as well, surrendering an equalizer in the third.
From there, Shelton went on a run, scoring once more in the 33rd minute to go into halftime up 2-1, and earning and converting a penalty kick two minutes into the second half to make it a two-goal game.
But flipped from the beginning of the first half, Centralia came right back, with Darrell Neuert setting up Perez in the 45th to cut things right back to a goal.
Twenty-two minutes later, Centralia earned a penalty kick, and Perez stepped up to convert and seal his hat trick, tying the game at 3-3.
The Tigers seemed destined for their second straight overtime result, but the Highclimbers pulled out one last twist, giving Centralia its first league loss of the season with a late decider.
Centralia will try to bounce back quickly, with the first leg of the Chronicle Cup coming Wednesday, at W.F. West.
