River Bluff boys take down top-ranked Wando

Phil Savtiz envisioned it, and Marcelo Malpartida made it happen.

Savitz, the River Bluff boys’ soccer coach, told the junior Friday he would end his scoring drought.

Malpartida did that as his shot found the back of the net in the second half to lift the Gators past defending champion Wando 1-0 Saturday in the third round of the Class 4A Lower State playoffs.

With the win, River Bluff advances to Tuesday’s Lower State championship against Socastee.

“I told him he is saving these for a big game, and my guess is it is going to be the third round,” Savitz said. “He does so many things, everyone thinks he has double figure goals, but that was his first one of the year.”

Malpartida said he had come close a few times this year, but found other ways to help the Gators, who are ranked No. 8 in the latest USA Today/NSCAA poll. He leads the team with close to 20 assists.

But it’s his goal that River Bluff players, coaches and fans are going to remember the most.

“It was unfortunate I couldn’t score all season, but I always kept confident and kept shooting. I knew eventually it was going to come,” Malpartida said. “I was fortunate it came tonight, because it was such a big game for us.”

The victory ends Wando’s bid for a third straight championship appearance. The Warriors had had the Gators’ number over the past three years and were 5-1 in the span, including a 3-1 win last month at River Bluff. But Savitz and his players didn’t lack confidence coming into the match against the Warriors, who were No. 1 in Class 4A and ranked No. 2 in the USA Today/NSCAA poll.

Savitz thought River Bluff (22-1) played a better first half than second against the Warriors (26-2), but couldn’t capitalize on its chances. River Bluff had more opportunities to begin the second half, but Wando’s defense turned them away each time.

That changed as Malpartida took the pass around the 25-yard line and moved by two Wando defenders before placing the ball into the back right corner of the net for the goal with 7:10 left.

“We tried a bunch of different things, but something clicked and found the back of the net,” Savitz said. “Luckily, we made it stand up. Congratulations to Wando on a great season. They don’t lose many. We are just happy to be going on to the lower championship.”

Evan Dowdy picked up the win in goal for the Gators. It was the first time Wando had been shut out since last year’s state championship against J.L. Mann.

It’s the third straight year River Bluff has advanced to the state semifinals. The Gators lost to Eastside in the Class 3A Upper State championship in 2014 and then to Wando last year in the 4A Lower State championship

Savitz said it’s time for his team to take the next step and emphasized that after the match.

“Hopefully, this can be a different outcome and we can win a Lower State championship and play for a state championship,” Savitz said. “This is our third year in a row and we haven’t gotten there yet, and these 12 seniors are planning to do something special.”

This story was originally published May 7, 2016 at 10:57 PM.