A starter in Philomath High’s boys soccer lineup since his freshman year, senior Silas Pittman has certainly accumulated a lot of memories in a Warriors uniform that range from the joy of a state championship season to the trials and tribulations of a rebuilding year.
Pittman participated in pregame Senior Day activities prior to Tuesday’s regular-season finale against visiting Newport but he’s not ready to reflect much on the past. Plenty of soccer remains to be played.
Gallery: PHS boys soccer vs. Newport (Oct. 29, 2024)
A collection of photos from Philomath High School’s boys soccer tie vs. Newport on Tuesday.
“It was just another game because I’m looking forward to the playoffs,” Pittman said following a 1-1 tie against the Cubs. “I think when the last game comes, hopefully that’s in the state finals, then that’ll bring memories.”
Raul Quiroz Sanchez, a senior who has seen playing time with the junior varsity, was also recognized before the game. Head coach Dave Ellis also gave him a varsity start and he stayed on the pitch through the first 13 minutes.
The Warriors finished No. 14 in the final OSAA rankings, which secured them the fourth home spot in the play-in round. Philomath is scheduled to host Scappoose (4-5-5) — the day and time will likely be finalized later Wednesday. Newport finished No. 15 in the final rankings and got the final play-in spot.
Conference champion Stayton and runner-up North Marion earned automatic berths in the 4A playoffs and will learn of their opponents after the play-in games are completed.
If the Warriors defeat Scappoose in the play-in match, the team would then be placed in the 4A bracket for a road game against a higher-seeded opponent to be determined. The first round of the playoffs is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Pittman scored the team’s only goal against Newport in the 23rd minute. The sequence leading up to the shot featured freshman Dreyton Nuno aggressively working the ball deep before getting a pass over to sophomore teammate Jacob Hernandez. Pittman then received a cross from Hernandez and finished for the early lead.
Newport and Philomath both had scoring chances throughout the first half, although the Cubs appeared to have more through the first 15 minutes.
“We were a little sloppy in the beginning,” Pittman said, who celebrated his goal by doing a complete somersault. “The field, the grass, is a little long and it’s muddy so it was hard with slipping. We kind of set the tone, the tempo, pretty low in the beginning and picked it up at the end of the first half.”
Phliomath nearly went up 2-0 in the final few minutes of the first half on a Jacob Hernandez shot that required Newport goalkeeper Jackson Recinos to go airborne for a save.
In the second half, Newport again created chances early and nearly scored in the 46th minute on a play involving junior Oliver Peralta and junior Juan Pablo Nieves. Philomath had opportunities about 15 minutes into the half. Junior Zach Grapoli missed a shot on goal wide left and a few minutes later, freshman Sammy Hernandez took a shot that the goalkeeper blocked and then grabbed just in time to prevent Pittman from getting off a follow-up shot.
Pablo Nieves scored Newport’s goal in the 59th minute after effectively working his dribble toward the net.
“They have a lot of good players and they know what they’re doing,” said junior goalkeeper Jake McGaughy, who faced his share of Newport shots. “I came into the game a little more nervous, which helps me a little bit, I like that. It helps me focus and just play the game.”
Philomath’s chances the rest of the way included a handful of corner kicks and free kicks. In the 72nd minute, Pittman got a ball to Sammy Hernandez that just barely missed to the right. Later in the 78th minute, Hernandez came close on a free kick that sailed maybe a foot high above the net.
“In the second half, they brought it hard,” Pittman said. “It was a good match.”
McGaughy respects what Newport can put on the field.
“We’re normally pretty even with them and we have been for years,” McGaughy said. “They’re a good team. It’s normally a physical game.”
Ellis said after the match that he didn’t believe the tie would hurt much for the team’s chances of hosting a play-in game, which is what would end up happening.
“Today I would’ve liked to have won but we’re ahead of them in league and we’re ahead of them in the rankings and so a tie is good enough,” Ellis said.
