Backus’ hat trick helps Rochester win first sectional game since 2016

Arriaga scores for Valley in loss

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Spencer Backus Grant Bailey Carlos Plascencia

WABASH — Spencer Backus registered a hat trick, and the Rochester boys soccer team limited Tippecanoe Valley to two shots on goal in a 3-1 win in a Class 2A, Sectional 22 quarterfinal at Wabash Monday.

Rochester improved to 5-10-1 and earned a semifinal matchup against Eastern (Greentown), who received a bye. Pablo Arriaga tallied for Valley, who finished 2-14-1.

The win for Rochester was their first in a sectional game since beating North Miami in the 2016 sectional final at Caston. Rochester moved from Class 1A to Class 2A starting in 2017 when the tournament expanded from two to three classes, and they went one-and-done eight straight years in the higher class, including a 2-0 loss to Valley in the first round in 2023.

It also marked Rochester’s second win over Valley on two different playing surfaces this season. The Zebras beat the Vikings 5-2 on the grass at Brent Blacketor Memorial Sports Complex Sept. 17 during the regular season, and they took them out on the turf at Wabash 19 days later.

Backus scored two unassisted goals in the second half, the second coming after he intercepted a goal kick with 1:29 left.

“I said it’s a great opportunity to go get one,” Rochester coach Eric Backus said of a talk he gave the team at practice. “So put the effort in and get it, and so they responded. We played a little slow for about the first 12 minutes. I think we were just a little scared to get into it, but once we did, we rolled, so it was good.”

Valley allowed 101 goals in their 17 games, but coach Backus complimented Valley both for how hard and how cleanly they played.

“I think my defense actually showed up,” Valley second-year coach Eric Ocock said. “If you look at our record, we’ve given up a lot of goals this season, and so my goal was to just tighten up the defense, and honestly, 1-0 at half, a scrappy goal but they got it. And then it went to 2-0 and then 2-1. I mean, I felt like the momentum was in our shift. We felt rushed, had a missed kick, and then he just pounced on a bad ball. That made it 3-1 and iced the game. The scoreline I don’t think reflects how both teams played.”

Spencer Backus scored the first goal with help from a Taya Tindi assist with 4:58 left in the first half. The play started with Jackson Robbins performing a slide tackle to dispossess Arriaga. That led to a speedy dribble down the middle from Grant Bailey, who sent a pass down the right seam to Tindi.

Tindi raced for the ball and got a toe on it just as Jake England made his own sliding attempt on the ball. The ball deflected off England to Backus, who won the race to the ball against a charging Valley keeper Francisco Ramirez-Brito. Backus got a toe on it and rolled it into the net for a 1-0 lead.

“He somehow got it past the defender,” Spencer said of Tindi. “I don’t know if that was intentional or not. But on turf, the ball keeps rolling, and it just got there, and I was in the right position thankfully, and I just tapped it in right through the keeper’s legs. It was almost perfect.”

Rochester took advantage of a Valley turnover in their defensive zone to increase the lead to 2-0 with 34:32 left. 

With Rochester’s Drew Lawson stalking Valley’s Owen Ryan as Ryan tried to dribble, Ryan sent a pass to England behind him. Backus timed England’s first touch and stole it from him and advanced on Ramirez-Brito one-on-one. Ramirez-Brito ran in to try and cut off Backus’ angle with his foot, but Backus maneuvered to his left, and Ramirez-Brito came up empty-handed. Backus then tapped a shot into an empty net.

“That time, I slowed it down,” Spencer said. “I knew he was going to slide, and I just took the ball to the left, and he slid right past me, and I just tapped it in.”

Valley had two corner kicks in quick succession in the 57th minute but could not generate a shot.

They continued to generate pressure, however, and they scored with 22:35 left when Arriaga stole a clearing attempt from Robbins, controlled the ball with his shin and fired a one-touch ripper to the right of Rochester goalkeeper Elliot Miller and inside the left post.

That would be Valley’s final shot.

England, Chris Rosas and Jayro Luva-Garcia are graduating, but Arriaga and leading goal scorer Damian Garcia are expected back for Valley.

“It was a nice strike,” Ocock said. “Bottom left corner obviously. They’re quality players. I’m happy that they’re returning next year.”

Ramirez-Brito had a save on Robbins with 17:00 left, and Ryan received a yellow card for a rough tackle on Backus with 15:29 left.

Valley’s last best chance might have been a corner kick from Arriaga with 4:45 left. Garcia rose up for a header, but it sailed over the top of the goal.

“They got a couple good shots off where we didn’t step to them,” coach Backus said of defending Arriaga and Garcia. “But for the most part, I told the boys to keep your body in front of the ball because it’s going to bounce, and we’ve got to be able to settle it and play it up quick because they’re going to be coming.”

Rochester appeared to have another chance to score when Carlos Plascencia took a corner kick with 1:55 left. Jonas Kiser attempted a header but knocked it out of bounds.

Ramirez-Brito took the goal kick, but Backus intercepted the kick and raced to the other end. He crossed in front of Valley defender Eric Murillo and beat Ramirez-Brito to his left.

“It was a bad goal kick,” Spencer said. “They were pressured with a minute left. They had to go, go, go, so I was just in the right position thankfully. The ball came right to me, and I dribbled it right up and just tapped it in the right corner.”

Rochester has six seniors. Three of them – Spencer Backus, Plascencia and Bailey – have started since their first games as freshmen.

“Great stuff,” coach Backus said. “Good for these three boys that have basically started every single game from their freshman season to their senior season if they’re healthy. … They’ve just been pillars of this soccer program. I can’t say enough about their hard work, their dedication and what they do at practice to make this team better.”