Girls Post-Game Summary
The CHS girls defeated CV in a key match to determine the top seed from the Mid-Willamette Conference going into the state playoffs. Prior to the match I would have predicted the Raiders to win this match although both teams feature excellent players and athletes. CHS would have proved me wrong after holding on for the 2-1 victory.

The CV girls looked like the much better team to me in the first half. They showed more willingness to play with the ball on the ground and at their feet. The result was a shot off the CHS post and another off the keeper early in the first half. Marissa Kovac was my choice for player of the match in last years showdown and she was looking dangerous again this year.

While coach Andrew Donaldson's Raiders may have been the more skillful side, CHS was athletic and determined enough to keep the game scoreless at halftime.

Coach Dan Finnen kindly gave Lauren Kolodziej credit for deliberately chipping the CV keeper to give CHS the lead early in the second half. Another interpretation might be that Kolodziej mishit a cross from the far left hand side that drifted over the backpedaling CV keeper for a goal.

CHS were also fortunate when an errant pass was mishandled by a couple of field players, again by the CV goalkeeper and was found by Taylor Helfand who finished into an empty net. Down by two goals the Raiders turned it on for the next twenty minutes and earned a late goal by Marissa Kovac but were unable to score an equalizer.

My choice for Player of the Match is CHS freshman midfielder Chloe Donegan who despite possibly being the smallest player on the field won more than her share of challenges, was tireless and was her team's most efficient passer.

On a side note is that McKenzie Redberg might be a better place kicker than Justin Kahut. Riley are you listening?

Boys Pre-Game Prediction
Both teams are nearly identical in record and results against common opponents. This is a close match to call with no clear advantage going to either team. However, I am picking CHS defeat CV 2-1 based on 1)history, 2)the Spartan faithful and 3)the quality of certain individual players.

When Raiders coach Casey Fries was born an oracle atop Mary's Peak prophesied that he would share Xerxes destiny and be thwarted by the Spartans. History has proven that prophecy to be accurate. The stars align just once a decade to tease Casey with a small sampling of victory.

The Spartan student body section is wild. They paint themselves, decorate shirts, dress up like Leonidas and make playing at Taylor Field thoroughly unpleasant for the Raiders every year. They are truly an extra player for this derby.

I have been impressed with Brian Cronk, Banner Shafer, Andres Nieves-Bernal. This summer they played in adult level leagues at CSP and in the Willamette League. That kind of playing experience will pay off tonight.

The Corvallis High School Spartans will face the Crescent Valley High School Raiders tonight at 7:00 PM at Taylor Field to determine the likely second place team in the Mid-Willamette Conference.

View the Corvallis Gazette Times boy's preview.

What did you think of the girl's outcome? What is your prediction for the boy's clash tonight?