Brewster wins District 1A/2B soccer championship

The Brewster Bears soccer team came through with victories over Warden and Cascade last week and won the District 1A/2B championship.

The Bears finished out the week with an exciting 3-2 victory over the Cascade Kodiaks in overtime last Saturday night at the Wenatchee Apple Bowl to win the district championship and earn the first seed into the state 1A/2B tournament.

Brewster hosted Royal on Tuesday, May 17 in the first round of the state tourney and will host the state quarterfinals Saturday, May 21 if they win their first round game.

The Bears led 1-0 at halftime with a goal by Juan Arroyo. Both teams battled in the second half with Cascade tying the game, Brewster's Edwin Tinoco scoring the go-ahead goal and Cascade scoring again to force overtime.

Brewster's Marcos Mendez scored with one minute left in the first overtime to win the game for the Bears in the sudden-death period.

"That was a tough game and a tough win," said Ernie Santos, Brewster boys soccer assistant coach. "The game was back and forth without a lot of long possessions but with a lot of long kicks. We kept trying and played very hard."

"I was a little nervous there when I had to take over coaching in the second half, but these kids are easily coached and did very well. I am very proud of them."

Brewster had 15 shots on goal with four corner kicks, and Cascade had 11 shots on goal with four corner kicks.

Abel Blanco was the goalkeeper for the Bears and had nine saves, and Antonio Sotelo took over the goalkeeping duties to end regulation and overtime. He had two saves.

"That win was very important, because it means we get to host the first round and second round games if we keep winning," said Ernesto Santos, Brewster boys soccer coach. "This is the third district championship we have won in the last four years."

The Bears started out the week with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Warden in the 1A/2B Tri-District semifinals at Warden on May 10.

It was tied 0-0 at halftime, then Isaii Ornelas scored to give the Bears a 1-0 lead. Warden tied it and Mario Pamatz scored off an assist by Tinoco, with about 10 minutes left for the go-ahead goal.

This was the fourth time the Bears had beat Warden this season.

Brewster had 13 shots on goal, and Warden had nine shot on goal.

Blanco was the goalkeeper for Brewster and had five saves.