PAGE A20, KEIZERTIMES, OCTOBER 22, 2021
McNary picks up key victory to
remain in hunt for playoff spot
S ccer
McNary forward Johann Singh Sanchez attempts to dribble around a defender in the Celtics 4-1 win over Bend.
BY MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
With their playoff chances on the
line, the McNary boys' soccer squad
picked up a much-needed victory
against Bend, defeating the Lava Bears
4-1 on Friday, Oct. 15.
Axel Zapien led the Celtics with a
pair of goals in the fi rst half.
“We knew we had to win this one.
We fi nished well, which we have lacked
at times,” McNary head coach Miguel
Camarena said. “We are happy to see
that result.”
The McNary forwards played with
a sense of urgency from the opening
kick, and it showed nearly right away.
In the fourth minute, Zapien sprinted
back past the entire back line on a
through ball from Max Baez, and the
senior forward placed a shot inside the
corner of the post for the score, giving
McNary the 1-0 advantage.
“We were really aggressive today,”
Zapien said.
Zapien came through with his sec-
ond score in the 26th minute to put the
Celtics up 2-0. After a throw-in, McNary
forward Hudson Brunk volleyed a ball
over to Zapien, who controlled it off the
bounce and fi red a shot with his right
foot into the net for the goal.
“The way our wings penetrated
today was the diff erence,” Camarena
said.
Bend had a pair of opportunities
to score early, but both shot attempts
were stopped by senior goalkeeper
Tayson Whetten.
McNary has had some goalkeep-
ing issues throughout the season,
but Camarena says that Whetten has
Photo by MATT RAWLINGS of Keizertimes
shown continuous improvement over
the last several games and is playing
the best he has played all year.
“Every game he's been getting more
confi dence. He is gaining his team-
mates' trust and improving his tech-
nique. I think that was his best game so
far,” Camarena said.
Pet
P
e
e
hap
pens
In the 38th minute, Bend got
another great look when Lava Bears
forward Jack Selman had a free run
at the net after winning a ball in the
midfi eld. Whetten played the situation
assertively, coming out of the box and
sliding towards the ball as Selman was
taking the shot. Whetten made contact
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