McNary goalkeeper Emerson Carella makes a save on a shot from Barlow in the first half on Sept. 20, at McNary. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes) 
Ryder Allen runs towards the sideline in celebration after his second half goal against Barlow on Sept. 20. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes) 
Hudson Brunk hits a header in the second half againnst Barlow on Sept. 20 at McNary. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes) 
Hudson Brunk watches his header go towards the goal in the second half against Barlow on Sept. 20. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes) 
Ryder Allen hits a header for the eventual game-winning goal against Barlow on Sept. 20. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes) 
Ryder Allen leaps and flashes a heart to the McNary crowd as he celebrates his goal in the second half against Barlow on Sept. 20. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes)
After 15 minutes on Tuesday, Miguel Camarena’s McNary boys soccer squad found themselves in a position they hadn’t been all season — trailing.
A rebound goal by Barlow senior Fernando Zurita-Orozco put the Bruins up 1-0, as Barlow looked to be the aggressor early on.
“We absolutely came out flat,” Camarena said. “When you are at the top of the rankings, every team is going to come out and try to beat us.
But the Celtics (5-0) responded. And on a team with five seniors and four juniors in the starting 11, it was the two freshmen that led to the Celtics’ 2-1 win.
With 14 minutes left in the first half, Fernando Zepeda tied the game up with a strike from 10-yards. Zepeda got behind the defense and received a perfect ball in front of him from sophomore Jonathan Ruiz.
Halfway through the second half, with the score still tied at one, freshman Ryder Allen put in a rebound with a header to give the Celtics the lead and eventual win.
The talented freshmen have Camarena excited.
“Both of them have the quality to play out there,” Camarena said. “I’m expecting a lot of good things from them the rest of the season.”
Despite a tie game and McNary outshooting Barlow 4-2 at half, Barlow looked like the more aggressive team to start the game. They had multiple shots sail just over or wide of the net, and with 12 minutes to play in the first half the Celtics were lucky to not give up another goal.
After the ball bounced over the heads of the final two defenders, a Barlow player was able to beat McNary goalkeeper Emerson Carella to the ball on the sideline. His long shot was cleared by the last McNary defender back.
Camarena made some adjustments at halftime, including switching from a 3-4-3 to a 3-5-2 formation, which opened up the field and helped the Celtics take control in the second half.
Going forward, Camarena knows there are some adjustments to make to keep them from coming out flat again.