when Jory Shene Molalla coaches saw the ball come diminutive junior midfielder Adrian Palacios on the left side of the goal, he had little doubt where it was.
Palacios ' goal in the 20th minute Saturday as he stood up as the winner of the game such as Molalla knocked away pirates Phoenix 1-0 and clinched the Championship OSAA Class 4A Boys of his first trip to the State final in the Lyceum of freedom.
"Adrian is one of the best shooters for our group," said Shene. "Has just got a great strike the ball and I knew that once this hit, into the net.
"And the size of, that is 5-foot-1 and 115 pounds, he plays that are 6-5."
Molalla (15-2-2) may not be exactly on top of Phoenix to attempt a shot. The Tri-Valley League champions seemed to score from almost anywhere within 35 yards and sailed several long-range bursts in the direction of Cook, including one with Luis Chavez that glanced off the top of the crossbar in the 11th minute.
Six shots the first half of the Molalla, which resulted in a goal must also was taken from inside the 18-yard box.
After a foul on Phoenix's Omar Iboa gave possession of Molalla near midfield, Sergio Maldonado lofted a long ball to the left. Pirates ' defender Eddy Arevalo mistimed clearance attempt and the ball bounced in Palacios orchestral recipients, whose low, hard blast skipped under Cook.
"I think I pushed the defender too and didn't know what to do," said Palacios. "Once I had, I would like to keep on the ground and place it in the right corner where I knew that the goalie couldn't."
Phoenix (14-4-1) brought more aggressive pressure in the second half, but the pirates ' best scoring opportunity came in the 50th minute when Luis Hernandez led a snapshot assume left from the top of the under 18-yard directly on goalkeeper Molalla C J Stith.
"If you watched the same eyes that I was really a nail-biter," Phoenix coach Dennis Flenner said. "As the game grew, we started pushing up numbers and apply more pressure. I would really care, but this does not happen.
"The finalists of the State, which is a painful loss. But the bottom line was we had a terrible season, so it would be very grateful. "
Phoenix fired blanks on the four corner kicks and Stith made three of four saves in the second half for Molalla, which posted its third shutout in the play-off and 12th of the season.
"Me pinching myself," is this really happening? ' "said Shene, whose team won the Northern Valley are used, Klamath Union and Philomath to reach the final. "It was a dream for these players where they are, and will not be passed."
--Jim Beseda
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