The Tenino boys soccer team needed overtime but came away the happier for it Friday, beating Hoquiam 4-3 on a Tyler Minerich golden goal.
Tied at 3-3 after the Grizzlies leveled the scoreline in the 75th minute, Tenino went to beyond the regular 80, but didn’t need long in the extra period. Four minutes in, David Espinoza took the ball down the left wing, cut into the penalty area, and poked back a cross to Minerich, who took a touch near the spot to get the ball onto his left foot before burying it.
“That’s how we scored all day,” Tenino coach Trevor Fetbrandt said. “Our plan was to attack the wings… their weakness was on the wing, and we torched them.”
Espinoza took advantage of the strategy to rack up three assists. His first two went to Max Craig in the 19th and 42nd minutes, and Craig was set up in the 49th minute to record his hat trick.
That made it 3-2 early in the second half, after Hoquiam led 2-1 at the break.
“It was awesome that the boys kept battling,” Fetbrandt said. “We conceded a couple unfortunate goals which were just funky plays, but they kept battling and kept their heads down.”
Tenino ended up outshooting Hoquiam 17-6, with keeper Brock Maurer making two saves.
The Beavers are set to wrap up their regular season at home Wednesday against Forks.
