Four goals from Scott Cerveny and relentless offense helped lift the No. 3 Gresham/Bowler high school boys soccer team to a 7-1 victory over No. 6 Northland Lutheran in Tuesday’s WIAA Division 4 regional tournament match in Gresham.
The Wildcats (16-6) got the scoring started early in the first half when Anthony Juga scored off an assist from Austin Olsen. Northland Lutheran (3-9-1) responded a few minutes later with an unassisted goal by Michael Krueger.
Drew Payne broke the stalemate with an unassisted goal, weaving through traffic in front of the Northland Lutheran goal.
That’s when Scott Cerveny took control.
“After they scored, I called Scott over,” Gresham/Bowler coach Nate Boucher said. “He can take a game over whenever. He was a key factor in the win today.”
“Coach got on us a little bit,” Cerveny said. “That always gets us going and to pick up our game a little bit.”
The senior forward scored from in front of the Northland goal, then got a second goal off a deflection, putting the Wildcats up 4-1 by halftime.
A minute into the second half, Olsen put in a goal after beating Northland Lutheran goalie Kyle Griesbach to a ball deep in front of the goal.
Cerveny then put in an unassisted goal and later got a head on a penalty kick from Walker Miller to put Gresham/Bowler ahead 7-1.
“We controlled the ball pretty well,” Cerveny said. “It’s something we’ve been working on a lot in practice, just keeping the ball for us and not giving it to them.”
Gresham/Bowler goalie Neal Cerveny had two saves.
There was a lot of rain Tuesday, which made for a muddy field, but the rain had stopped by kickoff, and Boucher said the Wildcats were ready for the conditions.
“We’ve had a few days where we’ve had to practice in bad weather,” he said. “The guys really adapted well out there.”
With the win, the Wildcats advance to the regional final Thursday at No. 2 Marshfield Columbus Catholic.
“We’re feeling pretty good,” Scott Cerveny said. “It’s senior year. I always want to try harder in the postseason and try to go as far as we can.”
The team has six seniors — Scott Cerveny, Olsen, Juga, Walker Miller, Trace Miller and Andrew Pleshek.
“We have a few seniors on the team and that helps,” Boucher said. “It shows with their leadership, how to put the ball where it needs to be and to go get it when we need it.
“The offense has played really well all season long. They’re all clicking at the right time.”
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