Woodburn Independent Online

Cougars stumble in pair of early losses at home

• By: Garrett Rudolph  
• Published: 9/14/2009 5:47:47 PM

Photo By: Garrett RudolphSaved
Sophomore goalkeeper Elmer Cortes leaps to make a save during Gervais' 4-0 loss to Catlin Gabel Wednesday at Gervais High School. Despite the score, Cougars coach Evé Castro said he was impressed with Cortes' performance, as he made several spectacular saves.

GERVAIS — Gervais boys soccer coach Evé Castro knows the season is going to be a “work-in-progress.”

The Cougars opened the season with a pair of losses at home, falling 2-1 to Damascus Christian, Tuesday, before being shut out 4-0 by perennial state power Catlin Gabel, Wednesday.

It was the first time in over three years that Gervais has lost consecutive games at home.

“It’s a learning experience,” said Castro. “They’re getting better.”

With so many underclassmen and players without much varsity experience, the Cougars’ problems were compounded by a shorthanded roster. For each of the two games, Gervais competed with just 11 players eligible for action, leaving the Cougars without a single substitution.

Meanwhile, Castro said he was impressed that Catlin’s roster featured 20 players, for a school even smaller than Gervais. The first-year coach said he hopes to get the Cougars’ numbers back up shortly, as several key players become eligible.

While Gervais kept the game close against Damascus, the Cougars never mustered much of an offensive attack in either game, as sophomore Pedro Bartolo scored the team’s lone goal. Catlin picked up a quick 2-0 lead in the first half, then tacked on another pair of goals in the second half to cruise to the win. Gervais didn’t have a single shot on goal throughout the entire second half.

Castro said the fact that the Cougars were playing back-to-back days didn’t give the team any time to regroup between game, allowing no time to work on the areas that needed improvement.

He pointed out the team’s defensive organization and the passing, as major areas he saw need for improvement.

“There was a lot of chasing the ball around,” he explained.

That can’t happen against a team of Catlin’s caliber, said Castro. Catlin is currently ranked sixth in the state in the Class 3A/2A/1A coaches poll, and owns a tradition of excellence in boys soccer.

Since 1988, the Eagles have played in 13 state title games, winning six championships and sharing three.

“I think that’s a good experience,” said Castro, of playing against a team with that level of success.

“Next year, I want to play 4A, 5A, 6A schools,” he said. “Just preseason, to see where we’re at.”

Despite the two losses, Castro was particularly impressed with sophomore goalkeeper Elmer Cortes, playing his first game in goal. Castro said Cortes made several incredible saves to keep the game as close as it was.

Castro also said that he plans to have another coach work with Cortes on some additional goalkeeper training, to help him continue to learn and improve.

“If we can improve on that, shoot, we’ll be doing really well,” he said.

He also said the offense should come around, as the team has more practice time to work together.

“We haven’t run our plays, yet, so that’s kind of a work in progress, so I can’t complain too much about that,” he said.

Gervais returns to action on Tuesday against Western Mennonite, in a non-league match-up at Gervais High School. Game time is scheduled for 4:15 p.m.

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