Soccer: EVCO 2A Tumwater set pieces doom Centralia

4/28/2026

(Centralia, WA) Coming into Tuesday night the battle for the Evergreen 2A league Championship was a muttled mess with a 3-way tie for 1st between Centralia, WF West and Tumwater all at 5-2, while Aberdeen was just a game behind at 4-3.

With 3 matches to play only Tumwater had total control over their destiny as they had Centralia, WF West and Aberdeen left to play and if the T-Birds could run the table they would clinch the Championship. WF West was at Shelton and Aberdeen at Black Hills.

ESN was at the Tumwater at Centralia match with a ton of pressure on both teams as the loser would have a steep hill to climb with just 2 matches to play.

Tumwater 3, Centralia 2

1st Half

The Tigers didn’t waste too much time to take the early lead on a Damien Corona goal with the assist going to Jacob Silva. The play was first set up off a corner kick that was rejected by the T-Bird backline. Silva got on the loose ball near mid-field and lobbed a beautiful pass to Corona who attacked and fired a high laser for the score in the 9th minute.

The Tigers were in control for much of the 1st 15 minutes protecting their keeper Romario Mejia who has been forced into action due to the regular keeper Kysen Donahue out due to injury. The T-Birds then had a couple of solid runs getting their offensive legs underneath them and eventually led to a free kick for Tumwater.

Malachi Vuong lined up the kick and fired a rocket into the back of the net for the equalizer in the 23rd minute.

Centralia had a couple of solid runs with more chances to re-take the lead but the T-Bird defense held firm and they went to the half all even at 1-1.

2nd Half

The 2nd half was filled with chances, plenty of opportunities for both teams and lots of near misses but both Meija leading the Tiger defense and Tumwater keeper Grady Harroun denying each offense time and again and it looked like it maybe the 2nd straight OT match for the Centralia Tigers. Then in the final 4 minutes a 3 goal scoring outburst.

The T-Birds were launching a late attack in then 76th with the score tied at 1-1 and broke into the box when the Tiger defense got too aggressive and drew a foul in the box giving the T-Birds a PK. Vuong lined it up facing off with Mejia. As Vuong approached Mejia was buncing back and forth and got caught going to his right while Vuong didn’t hit a hard shot but had enough on it to get by Mejia to give the T-Birds a 2-1 lead.

Tumwater then appeared to seal the win in stoppage time when Isaak Djigal took a deep pass broke into the box and fired a shot that hit underneath the crossbar and the ball came straight down and ruled a goal and pushed the lead to 3-1.

Centralia rerfused to give in and with time running out Eduardo Ruiz scored with a wicked shot on a line to pull within a goal trailing 3-2. But would there be enough time for at least one more run? No was the answer as Tumwater teed off on a long kick well out of bounds and the final whistle sounded ending the match.

Thorbeckes MVP of the Game

The Thorbeckes MVP of the game went to Tumwater’s Malachi Vuong who scored two goals and led the Tumwater offense.

What’s Next?

The T-Birds are now 6-2 in league play and 7-5-2 overall. If Tumwater can finish tghe season with two more wins they will clinch league Championship. They have another big test on on Friday with another away match at Aberdeen. They will wrap up their league schedule at home on Tuesday, May 5 against WF West.

For Centralia their chances to be league Champs took a huge hit with their 2nd loss to the Tigers dropping to 5-3 and 9-5 overall. Centralia needs to finish the season 2-0 and simply hope for a lot of craziness between Tumwater Aberdeen and WF West. The Tigers host Shelton on Friday and then travel to Aberdeen on May 5th.

Link to watch full game replay on the NFHS Network (subscription required)