High School soccer: Columbia River, Seton Catholic advance to semifinals

Alex Harris, shown here in Columbia River’s first-round match of the Class 2A state playoffs, scored three goals Saturday in River’s 3-0 win in the quarterfinals. Columbia River is in the final four. Photo by Mike Schultz

Columbia River, as top seed, still cruising, while Seton Catholic is making school history with its run to the final four

The No. 1 team in Class 2A boys soccer continues to look like the No. 1 team in boys soccer.

And the No. 7 seed in Class 1A boys soccer is proof that seedings don’t always matter

It’s no surprise that the Columbia River Rapids have reached the Class 2A state semifinals. But it is a bit of a stunner that Seton Catholic made program history by reached the 1A semifinals for the first time.

Oh, and Class 4A Union just missed out on a trip to the final four.

By the end of the weekend, two Clark County teams had advanced to the final four.

Columbia River’s Alex Harris scored all three goals as the Rapids took care of East Valley of Yakima 3-0 on Saturday.

The Rapids improved to 22-0 and have outscored their opponents 108-6. The Rapids have never given up more than one goal in a match. So, when the Rapids went up 2-0 on East Valley, well, statistics say, this match was decided.

Columbia River will take on No. 4 Sehome in a semifinal at 7 p.m. Friday at Renton’s Memorial Stadium. No. 6 Pullman and No. 2 North Kitsap are in the other semifinal, earlier in the evening.

The two winners will play each other Saturday for the title. The championship match is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Columbia River has made it to the final four in each of the past four tournaments played. The Rapids won the state title in 2018, finished second in 2019, and after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic, the Rapids finished third last season.

That’s quite a history.

Seton Catholic, meanwhile, is creating some of its own history this year.

The Cougars had never won a state playoff match until this weekend, and now the Cougars have two state playoff victories.

The 1A tournament had 20 teams in it, which meant the round of 16 and the quarterfinals were played on back-to-back days. Seton Catholic, which received the No. 7 seed, beat No. 10 Royal 3-1 on Friday.

On Saturday, the Cougars faced No. 2 Montesano, a District 4 rival, and shut out the Bulldogs 2-0. The result avenged a loss to Montesano in the district tournament.

Seton Catholic had lost in its previous five state tournament appearances. The 2-0 record this year sends the Cougars to the final four. They will face No. 3 Seattle Academy at 1 p.m. Friday in Renton in one semifinal. The other semifinal will be Highland and Overlake. The championship is at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Clark County just barely missed out on a third team advancing to the semifinals. In Class 4A, Union, the 12-seed, lost in penalty kicks to the 13-seeded Davis. The 4A is bonkers, according to seeds. The final four: 13, 8, 6, and 2.

On Friday, King’s Way Christian fell to Cascade of Leavenworth 4-0 in 1A round of 16.