Philomath’s boys soccer team ran into one of the Oregon West Conference’s top teams Thursday afternoon and the Warriors couldn’t keep pace with unbeaten Cascade in a 7-1 home loss.
Cascade junior Julian Cabrera finished with a hat trick and an assist as the Cougars built a 3-0 halftime lead and then broke the game open with three goals in a six-minute span early in the second half.
Gallery: PHS boys soccer vs. Cascade (Oct. 1, 2026)
A collection of photos from Philomath High’s 7-1 boys soccer loss at home against Cascade on Thursday.
Philomath coach Gerardo Garibay said he thought his players held their own on an individual level but that Cascade was further along as a team.
“I think individually we match up really well,” Garibay said. “As a team, they’re behind their system and their philosophy a lot better than we are at the moment. I also think we don’t give ourselves a chance by making mistakes and giving away goals.”
Philomath freshman Skyler Wilson tested the Cascade defense early with shots from 30 and 25 yards out in the game’s first six minutes. The first sailed high and the second went wide left.
Cascade went ahead in the fourth minute on a goal by freshman Adan Martinez with Cabrera picking up the assist. Garibay said the goal came after a lapse in focus.
“On the first goal, we lost focus,” Garibay said. “We thought the ball’s out of bounds — it’s not and we gave up a free goal.”
The Warriors stayed within striking distance through the first 20 minutes and earned three corner kicks during that stretch but couldn’t convert.
Cascade doubled its lead in the 22nd minute on a penalty kick by senior Joseph Burnell. A minute later, Philomath junior Sammy Hernandez just missed on a header off a throw-in from senior Esias Sapp.
“It’s those little things in the culture that we’re trying to change,” Garibay said. “We’ve got to stay focused and give ourselves a chance to stay in these games against good teams.”
Cabrera made it 3-0 in the 35th minute when he finished with a soft touch over Philomath’s keeper.
The Cougars pulled away for good after the break. Sophomore Enrique Alvarez scored in the 49th minute, junior Liam Clausen followed in the 50th and Cabrera added his second goal in the 54th for a 6-0 advantage.
Philomath got on the scoreboard in the 61st minute when Hernandez converted a penalty kick after junior Dreyton Nuño drew a foul just inside the top of the box.
Cabrera completed his hat trick with a goal in the 74th minute.
Garibay said much of the season has been spent teaching a relatively new group of defenders their roles. Philomath lost its entire back line from last season.
“It’s kind of how it’s been all season,” Garibay said. “From last year, we lost the whole back line, so everybody playing a defensive position this year is new to that defensive position. They’re trying to play catch up and learn the position. The little things like make sure you’re goal side … and the ball cannot go over your head. All those little things … we’re learning them in game, and it’s hard.”
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Garibay said his focus is on soccer fundamentals and team organization.
“The biggest thing for me is to try to teach them how to play soccer. And by that I mean like individual roles, who they’re marking, stuff like that,” he said. “I think they’re all athletes. They all run harder at the ball, but that’s not always the best when we play against smart teams when they’re moving the ball because we’re running, we’re getting out of position. It’s something that’s new to them or new to a lot of them, and it comes with experience.”
Philomath (2-6-1 overall, 1-3 Oregon West) plays Tuesday at home against Central, a matchup with a personal connection for Garibay, who was an assistant coach with Central’s boys program before taking the Philomath job.
“I think it’ll be a good game,” Garibay said. “I think they’re going to come for us, but we’ll be ready for Central.”
Cascade remains unbeaten at 8-0-1 overall and 3-0-1 in league play.
Cascade 7, Philomath 1
Thursday, Oct. 1 at Philomath HS
Teams (Record) 1 2 F Cascade (8-0-1, 3-0-1) 3 4 7 Philomath (2-6-1, 1-3) 0 1 1
FIRST HALF—1, Cascade, A. Martinez (Cabrera), 4th minute; 2, Cascade, Burnell (PK), 22nd minute; 3, Cascade, Cabrera, 35th minute.
SECOND HALF—4, Cascade, Alvarez, 49th minute; 5, Cascade, Clausen, 50th minute; 6, Cascade, Cabrera, 54th minute; 7, Philomath, S. Hernandez (PK), 61st minute; 8, Cascade, Cabrera, 74th minute.
