By Conner Orr

Coming out of the half, the boys added on three more goals in a 12-minute span to make it 5-0. Then, even after Nathan Hale scored one in the final ten minutes to make the score 5-1, the boys were able to drain the clock to send them back to the quarterfinals.

The quarterfinals was where the boys were eliminated last year and that is arguably what has motivated them this year more than anything. Therefore, when they knew they had made it back, they knew what had to be done. 

Unlike last year, where the boys took on East Valley (Yakima), this year they were set to play Othello. Going into the game, Othello was the sixth-ranked team in the state and had a seven-game winning streak. As for River, they had not lost a game since their first of the season and were the three-seed. Therefore, going into the game, fans knew it would be close.

Midway through the first half, Othello struck first, but JP Guzman of River converted a penalty kick late in the first half to make it 1-1 going into the break. After halftime, River scored back-to-back goals to take a 3-1 lead late in the game. However, Othello made it a one goal game, by scoring off a corner kick in stoppage time. Nonetheless, after a bit more time ran off the clock in stoppage time, River clinched a spot in the final four for the first time in two years.

River is now set to face the second-seeded Sehome on Friday. Two years ago, when River won it all, they faced Sehome in the semifinals and escaped with a 2-1 victory. This year, it will likely be another close game between these two teams as Sehome is yet to lose a game this season and River has not lost in over two months.

The winner of the game will face either Bainbridge or North Kitsap in the championship game on Saturday.