RHS Soccer Takes on Kennewick - By Juliet Polomsky
The Richland Bomber boys soccer team had their game against the Kennewick Lions on Saturday, April 6th. The Bomber boys won 2-0. The varsity game started off by calling Richland boys one by one to the field to present the lineup. #0 Luiz Mancera, #1 Alexander Chen, #2 Justus Thurman, #3 Deepish Dulichand, #4 Tate Ruzauskas, #5 Dylan Peart, #6 Martin Rivera, #7 Evyn McLellan, #8 Kameron Haff, #9 Keldan Ochs, #10 Owen Jackson, #11 Justin O’Niel, #12 Tristan Farley, #14 Daniel Porter, #15 Hunter Egeland, #16 Andrew Gallegos, #17 William Um, #18 Judah Thurman, #19 Chase Lindstorm, #21 Brennan Kieneker, #22 Immanuel Espindola, #23 Zakariah Quiroz, and #24 Aiden Pardini. Next was the Kennwick boy's time to be presented on the field, #0 Christopher Alonzo, #2 Phillip Titechko, #3 Clark-Benjamin Cheney, #4 Omar Mendoza, #5 Juan Mendoza Dominguez, #6 Leonides Rios Cortez, #7 Tanner Chavez, #8 Santiago Mendoza Lopez, #9 Jonathan Ortuno, #10 Jan Vergara, #11 Layton Brooks, #13 Moises Mendoza Lopez, #14 Daniel Negrete Torres, #17 Esteban Garcia Martinez, #21 Salvador Juarez Jr, #22 Eduardo Torres Contreras, and #23 Andrew Thoreson. The senior year Lions were acknowledged at the front gate with senior banners, Leondines Rios Cortez, Layton Brooks, Andrew Thoreson, Clark Cheney, and Salvador Juarez Jr.
The boys on both teams stood for the national anthem, got in their huddles, and then the game began. I sat on the home side of the popular Neil F Lampson Stadium, which was the home side of the Lions. The parents were on the edge of their seats to watch their boys almost score goals and defend and pass the ball very well. In the first half, the Kennewick Lions almost made a goal; the parents thought it went in but then got suddenly disappointed when they realized it wasn't fully in the net. A lot of the parents and fans were standing up when the game got intense; they would yell their boy's names and cheer them on. It was a very intense game, with parents from both sides looking very intrigued. The Bomber boys got to shoot the penalty kick that landed them in the first and only point in the first half. Owen Jackson started running towards the ball to make the impression that he was going to be the one to kick the ball into the goal, but then Kameron Haff came from the side and kicked the ball into the goal. The goalie and one of the Kennewick players tried to stop the ball, but the Richland boys made the field theirs. The parents on the guest side started cheering for the stunning play. However, the parents on the home side looked dissatisfied. The end of the first half had ended right after that play with a continuing score of guests 1, home 0.
The Bomber boys ran back onto the field with a good mindset and encouragement to gain another win. The Lion boys ran right after them to try to defend their home stadium. They both were hungry for another point. The teams went back and forth with the ball and up and down the field to earn their win. I asked #11 Layton Brooks from Kennewick High what he and his team are working towards and looking forward to in this sport. He responded quickly with, "Personally, I'm looking forward to playing soccer at Oregon State University, and team-wise, I'm just making sure everyone is getting better every day because we have a very young team." Layton Brooks has definitely shown on the field that he is ready to continue this sport in college, and he stands out on the team with his confidence and talent. Along with the Kennewick team, they are really showing that they are putting in a lot of effort.
I then asked #8 Kameron Haff from Richland High who inspires him and why they do. He then shared, "My father inspires me because he always works hard in whatever he does, even if he might not want to. His mindset inspires me to keep on pushing during the soccer season." That is just what keeps an athlete motivated and winning. During the second half of this alternating game, the Richland Bombers made another goal. The team showed their celebration of the goal in a very humble way and went back to continue their winning game. They played the game the same professional way they did the whole time, even though they knew at this point they won the game. That's exactly what the outcome was: the Richland Bombers boys' soccer team won their game with an excellent win.
