Of course, Jesuit's main objective entering the boys soccer season was regaining 6A supremacy and adding to its record haul of 17 state championships.
A close second, though, was settling a score with nemesis Lakeridge. The Pacers not only beat the Crusaders by one goal in the 2023 state final and 2025 quarterfinals, but early this season won their third consecutive nonleague game between the teams.
So when No. 1 Jesuit got some payback Tuesday by defeating the No. 4 Pacers 3-1 in a semifinal, the Crusaders felt a giant sense of achievement.
“Yes, for sure. They had our number,” coach Geoff Skipper said. “We kind of went into it with the mood that maybe it was our turn.”
With that hurdle cleared, Jesuit (15-1-1) can't afford to let down and take its eyes off the bigger prize. The Crusaders have a chance to win their 18th title, and third in five seasons, when they meet No. 6 Grant (13-3-1) is the 6A final on Saturday night at Hillsboro Stadium.
“We're going to have to regroup now,” Skipper said. “That's our focus is realizing we've got another game to play.”
Grant is following its own redemption arc. Last year, the Generals came within an eyelash of winning their first state championship since 2008 but lost to Beaverton in the final in a penalty-kick shootout.
“We know we have our work cut out for us,” Skipper said. “They've got some great athletes, and they're well coached. We have to bring our A game, just like we had to bring our A game the last couple games.”
Jesuit, which has won 15 in a row since opening the season by tying 5A finalist Summit 0-0 and losing to Lakeridge 2-1, is playing like a veteran team on a mission. The Crusaders' lineup is loaded with multiple-year starters, including three senior captains who were members of the 2024 state title team in forward Vala Saghafi, midfielder Dominic Bolouri and defender Wesley Colling.
“The captains really brought this team into focus this year,” Skipper said. “They're ready to play. We made some pretty blatant mistakes that hurt us last year. We're not making those same mistakes.”
Skipper said the Stanford-bound Saghafi, who has 36 goals and 20 assists, is a “generational player.” Last year, Saghafi was limited to six Jesuit matches due to his commitment with the Timbers Academy. This year, he is fully committed to Jesuit.
“Vala playing full-time makes a huge difference,” Skipper said. “Last year was kind of an experiment that didn't go as well as we hoped. You can't play both. It was just too tough on everybody.”
Saghafi grew up learning the game from his father, Mike, who was an outstanding player in Iran. Saghafi played his freshman year at 5A La Salle Prep before transferring to Jesuit, where he scored a team-high 30 goals in 2024, including a game-tying free kick in the final minute of the state championship game against McMinnville.
“There's no better dribbler and finisher out there that I can think of,” Skipper said of Saghafi. “I would consider him the best striker I've ever coached. Vala creates his own opportunities, and he puts the ball away when he gets his chances.”
Saghafi was named the Metro League player of the year this season. He was joined on the first team by Bolouri, Colling, senior defender Ronan Flinchpaugh and senior midfielder Rodrigo Rodriguez.
Jesuit's 15 seniors will be looking to go out on top Saturday.
“They've had this on their mind this entire season,” Skipper said. “They weren't going to be happy unless they won the state championship. They've got some hunger going into this last game.”
A look at the state championship match-ups:
Boys
6A – Hillsboro Stadium, Saturday, 6:30 p.m.
No. 6 Grant (13-3-1) vs. No. 1 Jesuit (15-1-1): Grant suffered a heartbreaking loss in the final last year – falling to Beaverton on penalty kicks – but found its way back for another shot after surviving a nine-round, penalty-kick shootout against Portland Interscholastic League rival and No. 2 seed Cleveland in the semifinals. The Generals are 1-4 in state championship games, their only title coming in 2008. They have three first-team all-league players in senior midfielder Rowan Spain (10 goals), senior forward Ewan Massimino (seven goals) and senior defender Callum Broadfoot (nine assists). The last time the teams met, they played to a scoreless tie at Jesuit last season. Senior Vala Saghafi (36 goals, 20 assists) provides a large portion of Jesuit's offense. Seniors Jet Perry (15 goals) and Dominic Bolouri (seven goals, 17 assists) have been productive up front.
5A – Hillsboro Staduim, Saturday, 1 p.m.
No. 7 La Salle Prep (12-5-1) vs. No. 1 Summit (16-1-1): Two-time reigning champion La Salle Prep goes for its 10th state championship against the top-seeded Storm. The teams played in the final in 2024, with La Salle Prep coming back in the second half to win 2-1 on two penalty kicks. The Falcons are in the final for the sixth time in eight seasons. They are coached by Monty Hawkins, who is No. 11 on the state's all-time wins list with a record of 256-128-43 in 26 seasons. La Salle Prep is 10-0-1 since starting the season 2-5. Senior Tim Scherler has a team-high 18 goals. Senior Lucas Hawkins was the Greater Metro Conference goalkeeper of the year and senior midfielder Nicolas Hawkins was the conference co-player of the year. Summit has won 10 in a row since a 1-0 loss at Redmond. Junior Will Newton (34 goals)., the Intermountain Conference player of the year, has scored in each playoff match. Senior defender Quentin Swanston (Western Washington commit) was the IMC player of the year in 2025. Storm coach Tom Bunnell, in his fourth season, won five Washington girls state championships in 14 seasons at Issaquah (2004-17). He guided Summit to its third state title in 2023.
4A – Liberty HS, Saturday, 10:30 a.m.
No. 10 Marist Catholic (13-3-2) vs. No. 1 Stayton (16-1): In winning the state title last year, Stayton ended a streak of four finals losses since its first championship in 2010. The Eagles are on a nine-game winning streak since a 3-2 loss at Cascade, avenging that defeat with a 2-1 win in the second round of Oregon West Conference play. Seniors Josiah Dessieux, the Oregon West player of the year, and Edwyn Perez lead the Eagles in goals with 23 and 19, respectively. Stayton coach Chris Shields is 274-84-26 in 25 seasons at the school, No. 10 on the state's career wins list. Marist Catholic, the Sky-Em League runner-up to Marshfield, upset No. 2 Valley Catholic 1-0 in overtime in the quarterfinals. Seniors Coen Rushton (16 goals), Evan Coffman (10 goals) and Hudson Cheeseman (10 goals) are the Spartans' top scorers. Rushton, Cheeseman and sophomore Owen Conway are Sky-Em first-team picks. Senior Luca Rushton has three goals in the last two matches. The Spartans, who won their only titles in 1996 and 1997, are in their first final since taking second to Junction City in 2001.
3A – Liberty HS, Saturday, 6:30 p.m.
No. 2 St. Mary's (16-0-1) vs. No. 1 Catlin Gabel (14-0-2): St. Mary's lost to Catlin Gabel in early-season nonleague games the last five seasons before tying the Eagles 2-2 this year. The Crusaders won their next 14 matches by mercy rule and have scored 129 goals, the most in the state for all classifications, to reach their first final since 2013. The teams have met in two state finals, St. Mary's winning in overtime in 2003 for its only title and Catlin Gabel prevailing in 2010. The Crusaders have 13 seniors on their roster, including Special District 3 first-team selections in forwards Riccardo Gigi (33 goals) and Angelo Sanchez (17 goals), midfielders Nico Cronk and Ben Mihm (11 goals, 22 assists) and defender Gabe Miller. Sanchez, Gigi and senior Sawyer Baker each scored twice in a 6-1 semifinal win over Dayton. The Eagles won their 15th state championship in 2024 – second most in state history behind Jesuit – before losing to Westside Christian 2-1 in the final last year. Seniors Giancarlo Rendon-Benitez (20 goals, 20 assists) and Liam Travers (16 goals, 16 assists), junior Ben Sirtori (16 goals) and sophomore Diego Flores (14 assists) spark the Catlin Gabel offense.
2A/1A – Liberty HS, Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 2 CS Lewis Academy (14-2-1) vs. No. 1 Grand View Christian (14-0-2): The two 1A schools meet for the first-ever 2A/1A championship. The teams played to a 5-5 tie at Oregon City High School on Sept. 22. In that game, Grand View Christian led 4-1 at half, fell behind 5-4, then got the tying goal inside the final five minutes. Grand View Christian has been highly successful since the program started in 2017 but opted not to compete in the state playoffs until the split for 2A/1A this year. The Eagles' unbeaten streak of 45 goes back to a loss in the 2023 district playoffs. They feature senior Luke Zagaryuk, a three-time district MVP. CS Lewis Academy did not have a team from 2021 to 2023 but has built up to reach its first championship game in its third season under coach Neil Cantrall. Sophomore Kenn Williams (13 goals, 11 assists) was the Special District 2 player of the year. Junior Isaac Owen (15 goals) leads the senior-less Watchmen in scoring.
Girls
6A – Hillsboro Stadium, Saturday, 4 p.m.
No. 3 Central Catholic (16-1-1) vs. No. 1 Jesuit (16-0-1): Jesuit, which has outscored foes 81-3 and is ranked No. 2 in the nation by United Soccer Coaches, goes for a third consecutive title. The Crusaders have won 17 state championships, tied for the state lead with Catlin Gabel. They are 17-2 in state finals. Coach Steve Fennah has 12 state titles and a state-record 350 wins. Jesuit enters the game with a 52-match unbeaten streak. Georgetown-bound senior Natalie Webber (6A first-team the last two seasons) leads the Crusaders with 28 goals, but she left the semifinal win over Lincoln with an ankle injury and her status for the match is in question. Jesuit brought back all but four starters from last season, including senior goalkeeper Sofia Vera (15 shutouts). It is the second championship game for Central Catholic, which lost to Lincoln on penalty kicks in 2007. The Mt. Hood Conference champion Rams have outscored opponents 73-6. Freshman forward Joan VanSandt has a team-high 19 goals, including four in the playoffs. Sophomore midfielder Claire Sdrulla has seven goals and 18 assists. Senior defender Annie Charbonneau (committed to Wyoming) was the MHC defensive player of the year. She was joined on the conference first-team by VanSandt, senior defender Elizabeth Briscoe (Western Washington commit) and junior midfielder Sophie Naulty.
5A – Hillsboro Stadium, Satuirday 10:30 a.m.
No. 11 Silverton (11-3-3) vs. No. 9 La Salle Prep (12-3-2): A unusual pairing in that both teams won three road matches to reach the final. Silverton knocked off No. 6 Canby, No. 3 Summit and No. 2 Sandy. La Salle Prep beat No. 8 Ashland, No. 1 North Eugene and No. 4 Bend, the reigning state champion. The Foxes and Falcons met in the 2016 final, with La Salle Prep winning on penalty kicks. That stands as the Falcons' only title in five finals and Silverton's only championship-game appearance. Silverton has the Mid-Willamette Conference player of the year in senior forward Marley Wertz (18 goals, 10 assists), a Corban commit. Freshman Emma Hailey, the conference goalkeeper of the year, made a school-record 139 saves. La Salle Prep's last final was 2021, a loss to Wilsonville. Sophomore Lila Chipps (13 goals, eight assists) was the Greater Metro Conference offensive player of the year. Senior Lucy Maloney, committed to St. Mary's College (Ind.), was the goalkeeper of the year.
4A – Liberty HS, Saturday, 1 p.m.
No. 4 Marist Catholic (18-0) vs. No. 2 Scappoose (14-2-1): Marist Catholic is in the final for the fifth consecutive year. The Spartans are going for a three-peat and fourth title in five seasons. They own a 142-2 scoring edge on foes, setting a state record for goals in a season. Senior Libby McLaughlin (Seattle Pacific commit) has 42 goals and 24 assists, increasing her career totals to 120 and 122, ranking seventh and first, respectively, in state history. McLaughlin, Linfield-bound senior Cruz Donawa (27 goals, 18 assists) and senior Tori Sherman (21 goals, 28 assists) call themselves the “Triangle of Death.” The Spartans have a 35-game unbeaten streak, the last 31 wins. Scappoose, a semifinalist the last two years, hasn't been in the final since winning its only titles in 2013 and 2015. Junior midfielder Emily Kessi was the Cowapa League co-player of the year. Freshman Kate Kessi, the 4A cross country champion, leads the offense along with senior Aubrey Haas.
3A/2A/1A – Liberty HS, Saturday 4 p.m.
No. 2 Oregon Episcopal (15-2-1) vs. No. 1 Catlin Gabel (18-0): The district rivals not only have a long history of battling for supremacy in the regular season, but also in the playoffs. They have met in the final 11 times, with Oregon Episcopal holding a 6-5 edge. Catlin Gabel won the last two, though, in 2019 and 2021. Catlin Gabel is 17-8 in championship games, tying Jesuit for the most titles in state history. Oregon Episcopal's nine titles ranks third. The Eagles defeated Oregon Episcopal 1-0 in both meetings this season. Catlin Gabel senior Alana Hill (29 goals, 15 assists) and Oregon Episcopal senior Cassidy Paulson (52 goals) are the Special District 1 co-players of the year. Freshman Lia Peng-Field has scored 25 goals for the Eagles. Paulson's 52 goals this season and 132 career goals both rank third in state history. Oregon Episcopal senior Mischa Aginsky has 10 goals and 29 assists.
jerryu@osaa.org
Subscribe
