CALDWELL - In their first state tournament since 1998, the Gooding Senators sank Snake River 4-1 to advance to the semifinals of the Class 3A boys state soccer tournament at Vallivue High School.

"This was real important for us to get our first win," Gooding Coach Roger Johnson said. "If they do the best they can, then good things happen. I expect that out of them all the time, win or lose."

Three different Senators - Jose Rodriguez, Manuel Gallegos and Daniel Lopez - scored in the game. Gooding's pressure in the box also forced the Panthers to score an own goal off a fullback's leg.

"We don't feed anybody to score," Johnson said. "We just play as a team. Anybody that can do it does."

Gooding was able to push the ball downfield, passing accurately without going offsides. If not for stout play from the Panthers' keeper, the margin could have been more lopsided.

"We're a passing team," Johnson said. "We practiced all year passing the ball, and that's what we're trying to do, just keep ball control. I try not to coach the long ball, just the short pass, control the ball and don't turn it over."

Most of the game was played at the ends, with both teams moving quickly through the midfield. The Senator defense was physical and fast, limiting Snake River's scoring opportunities and hitting quick outlets to spur the offense. Damen Hanson only allowed one goal, to Panther freshman Andy Garcia, and made two spectacular second-half saves.

"We built our team from the very first practice based on defense," Johnson said. "My best players are my defenders. That's the way I coach. If they can't score on you, they can't beat you."

Gooding faces Sugar-Salem today at 2 p.m. The Diggers beat defending state champion Payette 4-3 Thursday.

"We're going to give it the best we got," Johnson said.

Weiser 3, Bliss 1

Bliss junior forward Luis Cortez scored his 48th goal of the season Thursday at Vallivue High in the quarterfinals of the 3A state tournament.

But that breakaway strike in the 52nd minute was the only score put past Weiser keeper Ruben Ruiz as the Wolverines topped the Bears 3-1.

"We were one foot away from scoring five or six times and we just couldn't get it done," Bliss coach Daniel Knapp said. "We let them in the game and it turned from our game to their game. We got out of our passing game and that threw us off. We played catch up after that."

Jessy Solis gave Weiser the lead in the 12th minute, lobbing a shot over Bliss keeper Javier Beltran. Tito Zacarias put the game away in the second half, scoring goals in the 57th and 64th minutes.

Beltran made a few mistakes, but also saved two sure-fire scores, stretching out to block headers in the box.

Weiser played five defensemen in the second half as Bliss tried to force action against the brisk west wind. Cortez exhibited brilliant footwork, often dancing around two or three defenders to push the ball forward.

"He's got good footwork, a powerful shot and he's got speed," Knapp said. "He knows how to put the ball in the net."

Knapp said his star forward was limited by the short field at Vallivue High as two of the fields at the tournament only reach 105 feet, if that. They are also narrower than regulation fields.

"He needs acreage to run," Knapp said. "They put us on these dinky fields. This isn't real. If you have a slow team you'd want a shorter field, but I've got a speedy guy up front. I want acreage. I need distance. That's the draw we had. It didn't suit us, but it happens. That's the way life is."

Bliss plays Bonners Ferry at 11 a.m. today in the consolation bracket.