The OSAA #4 ranked Brookings-Harbor boys varsity soccer team earned home field advantage in the State Championship Tournament after completing the season undefeated in league play going 6-0 and finishing 12-1 overall to become the 2021/2022 3A/2A/1A-SD4 Special District 4 Champions for the 3rd consecutive season.
After defeating the Santiam Christian Eagles 3-2 Wednesday afternoon in first round post-season play, the Bruins eagerly awaited to see the victor of the #18 Nyssa Bulldogs and the #5 Oregon Episcopal Aardvarks match-up to begin preparation for the subsequent round two game scheduled TODAY, Saturday, November 6th, at 1:00pm.
The Oregon Episcopal Aardvarks took the 8-0 homegame play-off win over the Bulldogs, setting up a second round repeat of last years semi-final round game in Portland, that the Aardvarks won 2-0, sending them into the finals last year and ending the Bruins season.
The #5 Aardvarks, although not as formidable as their #2 ranking last season, still pose a considerable threat to the #4 Bruins, even after the long road trip from Portland. Oregon Episcopal has amassed 50 goals in 13 games while allowing only 14 goals against them in those same 13 games. The Aardvarks suffered 2 losses in league play, one to the #2 Riverdale Mavericks, and another to the #2 Riverside Pirates. They also suffered two non-league losses, both in close games to the #1 ranked Catlin Gable Eagles.
In last years match-up between the then #2 ranked Aardvarks and the then #3 ranked Bruins, Oregon Episcopal could not match the Bruins speed, and purposely abandoned their off-side trap defense and stretched the field, and used ball control and time of possession to eliminate opportunities to the potent Bruin offensive attack.
With excellent mid-field ball control and outside shooting skills, this years Bruins are not last years team. A clear adjustment has been demonstrated through out the season, focusing on building the offense from their stoic defense to the mid-field, that then spreads the opponent wide, using the entire field to attack defenses that can not predict where the next shot is coming from. 60 goals for, and only 6 goals against, with 8 shut-outs, says so.
Two of the leagues top ranked elite teams, with a history.., in a situation reversed from last season. One team defending last season.., one team looking to even a score, in a single elimination match to end one season, or send one on. It doesn’t get any better… at any level.
Brookings-Harbor High School hosts the second round elimination match between the #4 ranked BHHS Bruins and the #5 ranked Oregon Episcopal Aardvarks at Bruin field, TODAY, Saturday, November 6th, at 1:00pm.
