After 80 minutes of regulation, Centralia coach Noel Vazquez knew that the Tigers were through to the district tournament. The combination of Centralia making it to OT and the Black Hills loss to Shelton made it official before the game-winning goal was scored.
“I wasn’t going to tell the boys that, though,” Vazquez said.
Vazquez still wanted his team to play for the win, and three minutes into the first half of the OT period, Johnny Ruiz scored the golden goal to give the Tigers a 2-1 win.
Vazquez was happy for his 10 seniors, who got one final win on the Tiger Stadium turf in front of their family and friends.
“It was just a really good feeling that our efforts were rewarded today,” Vazquez said. “The seniors were really happy to know that we can continue playing at least one more game.”
Ruiz’s winner capped Centralia’s comeback win, as the Bobcats struck first on a penalty kick in the 30th minute.
Miles Paige scored off an assist from Damian Corona in the 50th minute to tie it up, and Ruiz’s free kick in OT deflected in for the win.
The Tigers (8-8, 4-6 2A EvCo) will head to Ridgefield on Thursday for a district pigtail game. The winner will advance to the double-elimination quarterfinals to face Columbia River, the GSHL’s regular season champion.
“I don't believe that we have peaked yet,” Vazquez said. “But it's the right ime to get hot.”
