‹‹ prev 1 of 2 next ›› KRIS HOLLAND/Yakima Herald-Republic KRIS HOLLAND/Yakima Herald-Republic East Valley’s Cameron Mugleston dribbles while Grandview’s Bruno Cortez defends in the second half Tuesday in Grandview. KRIS HOLLAND/Yakima Herald-Republic KRIS HOLLAND/Yakima Herald-Republic East Valley’s Fernando Lopez and Grandview’s Euladio Lua go for the ball in the first half Tuesday at Grandview High School. Lua scored the only goal of the game. Links   E-mail                         Print Advertisement

GRANDVIEW -- Nice time to bring out your best defensive performance of the season.

With a trip to the Class 2A state playoffs on the line, Grandview's boys soccer team rode the eight-save effort of junior goalkeeper Teclo Perez to a 1-0 victory over East Valley in a CWAC district semifinal on Tuesday.

Unbeaten Quincy defeated Wapato 5-1 in Tuesday's other semifinal, and Grandview (13-3) will host the Jacks (15-0) in the district championship on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Grandview had beaten East Valley 3-1 and 2-0 in the regular season, but the Red Devils' history and tradition was very much on the mind of Grandview coach Anne Holden.

"We had that talk on Monday," Holden said. "They are the defending state champions and they know how to win these games and how to prepare for these games. We're the ones knocking on the door so we have to be ready for this."

Offensively, the Greyhounds got what they needed at the perfect time, Holden said, as junior Euladio Lua scored off a corner kick from classmate Jorge Magana in the 38th minute.

"You have no idea how big that was for us," the coach said. "It was the emotional lift we needed heading into halftime. It gave us a bit more belief."

Grandview lost at Quincy 4-0 on April 10, but the Greyhounds will host the district final as the South champion. The North winner hosted last year's championship.

"The guys really want that match because they know it just wasn't them up there," Holden said. "They want to show what they can do."

Grandview has two previous trips to state in 1999 and 2002.

East Valley (8-9) is still alive for the district's third berth but must win loser-out matches on Thursday and Saturday to advance. The Red Devils host Selah on Thursday.

First half: 1, Grandview, Euladio Lua (Jorge Magana), 38:00.

Second half: No scoring.

Saves: Teclo Perez (G) 8, Marin Partida (EV) 9.