Sports roundup: Boys soccer beats Trojans in second-half thriller

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Senior soccer captain Joel Barrientos-Estrada’s last 10-minute strike won Blaine a rivalry game against the Meridian Trojans March 28 at Meridian High School. Three goals in the second half secured a 3-2 win for the Borderites and notched the team’s third consecutive win this season and a winning start in conference.

Head coach Gio Quesada said he was glad to see his team keep their heads up after conceding early in the game. “They have shown a lot of confidence so far this season,” he said.

Meridian took the lead in the first 10 minutes of the game and kept the pressure on for most of the first half. Quesada said his team struggled to adjust to Meridian’s grass field as Blaine plays on turf.

But Blaine came into the game in the second half, with sophomore Ethan Koreski finding an equalizer. Koreski turned in senior Alessandro Rangel’s shot-cross at the back post. The Borderites took the lead shortly after through sophomore Maxim Yuryev heading home fellow sophomore Isaiah Zuch’s corner kick. The Trojans made it 2-2 in the 70th minute with a breakaway goal that snuck by senior goalkeeper Kael Evinger. With nearly five minutes left to play, Barrientos-Estrada found the side netting of the goal with a skipping shot from outside the box that the Meridian goalkeeper couldn’t handle. The senior captain ran the length of the half to the away bench to celebrate with his team. 

“I feel like the team is bonding very well this year,” Quesada said. “Good vibes between everybody.” 

Blaine plays Lynden Christian away next at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 30, which Quesada said will be another battle. After spring break, they play Nooksack Valley at home 7 p.m. Monday, April 10.

The team is 3-1-1 overall this season and 1-0 in conference.

Baseball

The Borderites beat the Sehome Mariners 4-0 on the road March 25. They then lost 12-1 to the Anacortes Seahawks at Daniels Baseball Fields in Anacortes on March 28.

Blaine will play the Mount Vernon Bulldogs at Pipeline Fields 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 30. The team will host the Granite Falls Tigers at Pipeline Fields 2 p.m. Saturday, April 1 and travel to Burlington-Edison High School Monday, April 3, where they will play at 4 p.m. 

Blaine is 3-2 so far this season and 1-2 in conference.

Boys golf

Blaine boys golf team plays next at Sudden Valley Golf and Country Club in Bellingham High School’s multi-school Shotgun Start conference match Thursday, April 13. The boys will play at Homestead Farms Golf Course Tuesday, April 18 in a multi-school conference match hosted by Lynden Christian High School. Both matches start at 3 p.m.

Girls golf

Blaine girls golf played at Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club in a nine-hole conference match March 27. Overall, Blaine finished fifth out of eight teams with a team score of 338. Sedro-Woolley finished first with 278 and Lakewood finished second with 293. 

First-year head coach Connie Pilon said the girls have been improving over each match. Pilon said Kijah Van Rijswijck placed highest for Blaine, around the top third of individual players. Pilon said the girls will play 18 holes in all varsity matches after spring break.

The girls play in the Whatcom County Championship match Thursday, March 30 at Sudden Valley Golf and Country Club. Tee off is at 3 p.m.

Girls softball

The Lady Borderites beat the Sedro-Woolley Cubs 3-1 in Sedro-Woolley March 23. They beat the Sehome Mariners 17-0 in Bellingham March 27.

The team hosts the Granite Falls Tigers next at Pipeline Fields 2 p.m. Saturday, April 1 and the Nooksack Valley Pioneers 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 11. 

The girls are 3-0.

Girls tennis

Blaine girls varsity tennis lost 6-1 to the Anacortes Seahawks at home March 28. 

The team plays Burlington-Edison next at home 4 p.m. Thursday, March 30.

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