2A Boys Soccer: Columbia River can't crack Squalicum's defense in 3-0 loss in state semifinals
May 29-FEDERAL WAY - The Columbia River boys soccer team played a match on Friday that felt like an uphill battle the entire way.
When Squalicum put up an early goal, the Rapids never found a path to the top.
The Storm from Bellingham continued their undefeated season with a 3-0 win over River in a 2A boys soccer state semifinal match at Federal Way Memorial Stadium.
"That's a defense that we haven't seen yet this year," River coach Matt Newman said.
The Rapids created some early possessions, but found themselves in a quick hole when Crew Johnson headed in a perfect cross from Jayden Bak to put the Storm up 1-0 in the 10th minute.
"To give up a goal in the six (defensive midfield) is tough, and to go down early is even tougher against a team like that," Newman said. "We kind of threw as much as we could at them to get going. It's just unfortunate that we came out on the losing side today."
River's attempts to get a tying goal were thwarted by the Storm in the rest of the first half and first half of the second.
Then Olivar Hoglin punched in a clearing shot by the Rapids in the 60th minute to all but seal things for Squalicum. Cody McCaulley made it 3-0 with a goal in the final minute of play.
"That's a really good Squalicum team," Newman said. "We knew they were going to be really good possession-wise. They are not going to make a lot of technical mistakes."
The Rapids will face a familiar foe in the third-place match on Saturday.
Sehome of Bellingham fell 2-1 to top-seeded Bainbridge in Friday's other semifinal.
It will be the third time in the past four seasons that River and Sehome have met at the final state tournament site.
The Rapids and Mariners will play at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
"We always say at the end of every game, win, lose or draw, we get back to work," Newman said. "We got the loss today, but tomorrow is a new day. It's a good lesson for them, not just in soccer, but their lives as well."
SQUALICUM 3, COLUMBIA RIVER 0
Squalicum
Goals (assists) - Crew Johnson (Jayden Bak); Olivar Hoglin, ua; Cody McCaulley (Drew Swanson). Goalkeeper saves - Maxwell Phillips 3.
Columbia River
Goalkeeper saves - Aeden Pena 6.
Halftime - Squalicum 1-0.
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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 5:55 PM.