KALAMA — For the second year in a row, Napavine is headed to the district title game.
The Tigers advanced to the championship game and punched their ticket to the state tournament on Thursday in Kalama, where they shut down the Loggers in a 1-0 victory.
“I’m so proud of the kids,” Napavine coach John Bates said. “They’re so resilient. They’ve worked hard, and I’m glad they're in the final.”
Hannah Fay scored the game’s lone goal in the 23rd minute from just outside the 18-yard box, placing a shot just past a diving Onalaska keeper.
Both teams traded chances in the final moments of the first half, but after the break, scoring opportunities for either side were rare.
Onalaska pushed hard for an equalizer in the final 10 minutes, but the Tigers were able to hold firm defensively to preserve the shutout. Taylen Evander finished with the clean sheet in net.
It was the third time this season that Napavine has shut out Onalaska, which has only been shut out one other time this season and has averaged more than four goals per game in their other 15 games this season.
“You gotta score to win,” Onalaska coach Christopher Van Clifford said. “We’ve been struggling with that against Napavine all year … It was a tough loss.”
Van Clifford credited Napavine’s speed on the back line, but he also said that the Loggers didn’t help themselves with their inconsistencies passing the ball.
“We just didn’t connect our passes the way we needed to,” Van Clifford said. “The passing wasn’t tight enough to put the ball in front of the goal often enough.”
The Loggers (9-8-1) will have one more shot at clinching a state bid, when they take on Adna on Saturday evening in Tenino.
The Pirates fell to Toledo in the other semifinal on Thursday night. In Onalaska and Toledo’s first meeting on Oct. 15, Onalaska won 2-0.
If the Loggers can top the Pirates, it would mark their seventh consecutive trip to the state tournament.
“We’re ready to roll,” Van Clifford said. “They’ll feel bad tonight, but they’ll be ready on Saturday.”
The Tigers (11-4-2) will defend their district title against a Toledo squad that it defeated in the district championship game last fall. Their only meeting so far this season was on Oct. 13, and it ended in a scoreless draw.
It’s a spot Bates wasn’t sure the Tigers would be in come Championship Saturday.
“I don’t think anyone gave us a chance this year,” Bates said. “We had our troubles and stuff, but they’re so resilient. I’m so proud of them.
“It’s gonna be a tough final against Toledo,” Bates continued. “But I think we have a shot.”
