Mac boys rally to advance over Cleveland

The casual observer might think that the McMinnville Grizzlies were in a bad spot when an own goal on a routine drop-back play to the goal keeper cost them the lead four minutes in to their Class 6A State Championship first round match against Cleveland on Saturday night at Wortman Stadium.

Think again.

“When we play like we’re down, we’re dangerous,” Grizzlies head coach Jory Shene explained. “We’re really dangerous.”

The Warriors learned this lesson the hard way as McMinnville rallied to a 4-1 victory, advancing to the second round of the 32-team bracket.

After shot after shot was turned away, Lucas Shirley put in the equalizer, a searing kick from the top of the box into the upper right corner, in the 27th minute. Alejandro Martinez skirted around an advancing Cleveland goal keeper in the 39th minute and tapped in the go-ahead goal.

The Grizzlies weren’t done.

“If we act like it’s four to one, we’re going to let goals get scored on us,” senior defenseman Clayton Maves said. “If we act like it’s 0-0, it keeps our intensity up and keeps our effort going. It allows to keep pushing.”

And push they did. Repaying the favor from earlier, Cameron Autencio bounced a cross off a Cleveland player and into the net in the 46th minute to stick the Warriors with an own-goal and make the lead 3-1, while Shirley netted another goal in the 53rd on a breakaway.

McMinnville advances to play David Douglas in Portland on Wednesday. Game time is to be determined.

In other action:

Blanchet Catholic 2, Delphian 1

SALEM – The Dragons failed to secure the top bracket seed from Class 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 after losing the SD2 seeding game to Blanchet at Salem Academy on Saturday.

Delphian, now the No. 2 seed from SD2, will begin stat tournament play next week. Date, time, opponent and location are yet to be determined

Girls soccer

Lincoln 2, McMinnville 0

PORTLAND – The Grizzlies were hoping to get to halftime tied after an overly defensive first half in their Class 6A first round tournament game against Lincoln on Saturday night, head coach Victor Campos explained.

The Cardinals had other plans.

A long volleyed goal for Lincoln with seconds remaining in the first half put Mac down a goal and forced Campos to alter his game plan, playing a much more aggressive style then he said he was originally intending for the second half to get the goal back. But Lincoln netted another in the back half to take the decision and bring the Grizzlies season to an unceremonious end.