Lakeridge defeats Lake Oswego in quarterfinal clash
A late goal by Liam Kutella sends the Pacers to the semifinals and ends the Lakers' season.
By Bianca Shevchenko ·
Lakeridge High School advanced to the Class 6A state soccer semifinals on Saturday after defeating archrival Lake Oswego 1-0. The game, played at Lakeridge, decided the quarterfinal matchup between the two local teams. The victory ends the season for the visiting Lakers while extending the Pacers' post-season run.
The match featured intense physical play and a large, vocal crowd. At one point, officials paused the game to address the behavior of the students in the stands. The teams traded chances without finding the net for most of the contest. Lake Oswego created its best opportunity in the first half when Calder Hughes ran onto a loose ball in the penalty box. His shot was stopped by Lakeridge goalkeeper Collin Cernitz.
The score remained tied until the final minutes of the second half. With six minutes left on the clock, Lakeridge broke the deadlock. Leo Van Driesche exchanged passes with Nate Pasek and crossed the ball to senior Liam Kutella. Kutella tapped the ball past Lake Oswego goalkeeper Ben Robertson from six yards out to secure the win.
The result improves Lakeridge's record to 14-1-1. This marks the ninth consecutive victory for the No. 4 seeded Pacers. They finished the regular season as the Three Rivers League champions. The win keeps their playoff momentum intact as they move deeper into the tournament.
Lake Oswego, ranked No. 12, fell to 11-5-1 for the season. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Lakers. They finished third in the Three Rivers League. The final whistle marked the last competitive match for 13 senior players, including Robertson, Preston Reed, and Miles Liu.
Lakeridge will next face No. 1 Jesuit in the state semifinals. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Jesuit also holds a 14-1-1 record and won the Metro League. The Pacers enter this matchup as the lower-seeded team in their next contest.
Lakeridge forward Jackson Romero called the win super-important for the team. He noted that sending their rivals home in front of a large school turnout was a positive moment. Kutella agreed, stating that coming away with a 1-0 victory against a rival means a lot to the squad.
