By Ryan Minkrmink@digitalsports.comIf Friday’s boys soccer matchup between Gonzaga and DeMatha is any indicator, a potential WCAC championship meeting between two of the area’s top teams could be an absolute barn burner.
Gonzaga and DeMatha played to a 3-3 tie at the RFK Auxiliary Field Friday afternoon in a game that Gonzaga
Coach Scott Waller called “one of the best soccer games I’ve seen in a long time.”
“It looked like a college game,” Waller said.
DeMatha (13-0-6) took the lead on three separate occasions, but Gonzaga (18-1-2) fought back each time, most times very quickly.
The Stags got goals from
Chris Hengni,
Brian Alvarez and
Toby Iguade. DeMatha used a new formation in which there were three forwards applying constant pressure on Gonzaga, a tactic DeMatha
Coach Dafydd Evans said he will use again if the teams meet in the playoffs.
“It caused them all kinds of problems,” Evans said. “We’re very very confident for next week. We didn’t play our best soccer and we dominated, so we’re excited.”
After DeMatha scored its first goal, Gonzaga’s
Marcus Douglass returned the favor in just 8 seconds. After the Stags scored their second goal, Gonzaga’s
Dan Rice scored just a minute later.
DeMatha scored with about 15 minutes left in regulation and finally Gonzaga didn’t answer back right away. But even more heartbreaking for the Stags, Rice put in the game-tying goal with just five seconds left in regulation.
“
Chris Perez had a phenomenal shot, their goalie had a phenomenal save and then Rice followed it up,” Waller said.
The two teams have now tied in four straight WCAC regular season games. Gonzaga beat DeMatha in penalty kicks in last year’s WCAC championship game after coming back from a 2-0 and 3-2 deficit.
“I think it was good for us to come from behind,” Waller said. “It showed good character. It was a good test for us, a good tie.”
