HILLSBORO – Behind another sterling performance from its star striker, senior Vala Saghafi, Jesuit once again planted its flag atop 6A boys soccer on Saturday night at Hillsboro Stadium.
The Stanford-bound Saghafi ended his high school career in style, scoring two goals to help lift the top-seeded Crusaders over No. 6 Grant 4-2 in the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 6A final.
Both of Saghafi's goals came in the second half as Jesuit (16-1-1) pulled away from a 1-0 halftime lead over the Generals (13-4-1). Seniors Jet Perry and Rodrigo Rodriguez also had goals for the Crusaders, who won their third title in five seasons and 18th overall, adding to their state record.
“Winning that state championship sophomore year, I thought that was the best feeling in the world,” said Saghafi, referring to beating McMinnville on penalty kicks in 2024. “Doing it here, even though it wasn't as dramatic this time, feels even better. I feel like I was more of a leader this year.”
Saghafi was the catalyst for Jesuit's attack all season, racking up 38 goals and 20 assists. He accounted for half of the team's 6A-leading 76 goals and had a hand in 58 of them.
“He creates so many opportunities for himself and the team,” Perry said. “He's so compassionate. He loves to pass the ball and he loves to take it for himself at times, but he's truly the best player I've ever played with.”
Jesuit coach Geoff Skipper said that Saghafi, who transferred to Jesuit from 5A La Salle Prep as a sophomore, is going out the same way he came in with the Crusaders.
“He's always been fantastic,” Skipper said. “Just a great kid, and a great soccer player. He's got a big future ahead of him. He's just pure entertainment to watch on the field.”
Jesuit won its last 16 matches after opening the season by tying Summit and losing to Lakeridge. The Crusaders took the Metro League crown back from Beaverton, last year's 6A champion, and kept their momentum rolling through the playoffs.
“They've been like that the last 16 games,” Skipper said. “It's them. They are a fantastic group of kids.”
Said Perry: “We knew we were good enough, we knew we had the talent, it was just about how hard we worked. And everyone on this team really gave it their all every day. We're really brothers.”
For much of the first half, Jesuit was locked in a tight battle with the Generals, who sought redemption from losing to Beaverton on penalty kicks in last year's final. The Crusaders broke through in the 36th minute, though, when Rodriguez scored on a header from the top of the six-yard box.
In the 47th minute, Perry made a perfectly timed pass ahead to Saghafi, who got behind the Grant back line and beat the keeper to make it 2-0. The lead grew to 3-0 in the 57th minute when Perry took a pass from Rodriguez, turned and fired the ball into the goal from the top of the 18-yard box.
Grant senior Ewan Massimino cut the gap to 3-1 by converting a penalty kick in the 69th minute, applying some pressure on the Crusaders.
Saghafi answered six minutes later by zigzagging through the defense, leaving several Generals in his wake, for a clear shot on goal, only to be stopped on a hand ball by sophomore defender Sebastian Graime.
Saghafi got creative on the ensuing penalty kick by slowly chipping it straight ahead and past senior goalkeeper Finn Proctor, who dove to his side. That pushed the score to 4-1.
“I knew I was chipping it down the middle. I had to be a little cheeky,” Saghafi said.
Saghafi's constant pressure strained Grant's defense.
“For 80 minutes, it's tough to shut him down,” Generals coach Erik Miller said. “We tried our best.”
Grant got a goal in the final minute from senior Kai Schneider, assisted by senior Callum Broadfoot, before Jesuit closed it out.
Skipper liked how his team settled into the match after being challenged early. The Crusaders outshot Grant 11-6 and had a 9-2 edge in shots on goal.
“The first 25 minutes were pretty shaky,” Skipper said. “But we've kind of been a second-half team all year long. The second half was the kind of performance I expected. I think we were pretty lucky to be up one at halftime. I'm sure there were some nerves, and we pulled it together in the second half.”
Saghafi, who drew chants of MVP from the Jesuit faithful, savored the postgame celebration. Last year, he played in only six matches due to his commitment to the Timbers Academy. This year, he was committed to the Crusaders full-time.
“Everyone in the stands, they make it so fun to play,” Saghafi said. “That's the Jesuit community we have here. Playing with the Timbers, and playing at the highest level, is amazing. … But being here, and competing with your friends that you go to school with every day, having people chant MVP to me, there's no better feeling than that.”
Grant, which won its only title in 2008, was left to deal with the disappointment of finishing as runner-up for the second year in a row. Miller said he liked how his team responded after hitting some rough patches.
“The guys have been phenomenal all season,” Miller said. “To be standing here again, it's really hard to do. We faced a great team. I give them a lot of credit. I would go to battle with my group any day of the week, it's just an off night for us.”
jerryu@osaa.org
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