The Philomath High School boys soccer team escaped Independence with a 6-5 victory Thursday night over Central in an Oregon West Conference match.
Junior Dreyton Nuño scored the game-winning goal in the 69th minute off a long throw-in by senior Esias Sapp. The goal completed a hat trick for Nuño.
The match carried added meaning for first-year Philomath coach Gerardo Garibay, who was going up against his former team. Garibay took the PHS job after serving as an assistant coach with the Panthers.
Nuño put the Warriors on the board in the game’s opening minute with an assist from sophomore Andrew Sims. Central junior Ivan Garcia tied the score in the 23rd minute, but Nuño answered a minute later with his second goal to put Philomath back in front.
Central junior Diego Hernandez scored the first of his four goals in the 33rd minute to tie the score at 2-2. Philomath then struck twice before the break. Senior Jacob Hernandez scored on an assist from Sapp in the 37th minute, and junior Sammy Hernandez found the net in the 40th minute to give the Warriors a 4-2 halftime lead.
Diego Hernandez cut Philomath’s lead to 4-3 in the 47th minute, but Sammy Hernandez countered with his second goal in the 55th minute to again put the visitors up by two. Diego Hernandez then scored his third and fourth goals in the 59th and 64th minutes to pull Central even at 5-5.
That set the stage for Nuño’s winner five minutes later.
Philomath improves to 5-8-1 overall and 4-5 in the conference. Central drops to 3-9-1 and 1-7-1.
The Warriors are scheduled to host Stayton at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. The team’s seniors will be recognized before the game.
Philomath 6, Central 5
Thursday, Oct. 22, at Central HS, Independence
Teams (Record) 1 2 F Philomath (5-8-1, 4-5) 4 2 6 Central (3-9-1, 1-7-1) 2 3 5
FIRST HALF—1, Philomath, Nuño (Sims), 1st minute; 2, Central, I. Garcia, 23rd minute; 3, Philomath, Nuño, 24th minute; 4, Central, D. Hernandez, 33rd minute; 5, Philomath, J. Hernandez (Sapp), 37th minute; 6, Philomath, S. Hernandez, 40th minute.
SECOND HALF—7, Central, D. Hernandez, 47th minute; 8, Philomath, S. Hernandez, 55th minute; 9, Central, D. Hernandez, 59th minute; 10, Central, D. Hernandez, 64th minute; 11, Philomath, Nuño (Sapp), 69th minute.