Gresham boys soccer’s Oscar Morales gets 1-0 win with header goal
Published 9:37 pm Tuesday, October 13, 2026
In the middle of a back-and-forth league contest, in which both Gresham and Reynolds were showcasing their deep talent on the pitch, it was the rising head of a senior defender that made all the difference.
In the second half Gresham got the ball to the wide left on a quick restart. Senior midfielder Ariel Romero took a few touches down the line before lofting a perfect cross into the middle of the box. Rising up to score was fellow senior Oscar Beltran Morales, pinging the ball into the back of the net with a thunderous header.
“I was looking for the ball with my run, and I knew I had to head it in,” Morales said. “It feels amazing to see that go in, especially after an intense game like this.”
That score made all the difference in a contest among two of the top teams in the Mt. Hood Conference.
No. 27 Gresham (5-3-3, 2-0-1 League) won 1-0 over No. 30 Reynolds (5-5-2, 2-2 League) Tuesday evening, Oct. 13.
“That is what a team effort looks like,” said Coach Mauricio Gomez. “It took everyone getting this result.”
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“This is what we need to make it all the way,” he added.
Both teams play a similar style. They are elite in possession with a platoon of talented midfielders who love to showcase their deft footwork and accurate passes. Gresham tends to build out from the back, while Reynolds plays a bit more direct to get the ball to its speedsters in the attack.
Defensively both teams are sound, evidenced by the lack of shots on frame. The first real chance was by Gresham about halfway through the opening half. Junior Alex Garcia-Nuñez shot a free kick on frame, forcing a save by Reynolds junior goalie Aaron Maciel Bolaños.
The Raiders best chance in the first half was a shot by junior midfielder Victor Marin, which was saved at the 5 minute mark.
Gresham’s second-half goal came against the run of play. It looked like the Raiders might be the first to break through, after a pair of dangerous shots on goal by senior Omari Francois and junior Bryan Perez Lores — those two were electric up the left side of the pitch.
Defensively the Gophers saw it out.
“We kept communicating with each other and fought to the end,” Morales said. “This was one of our hardest last tests of the season.”
Hispanic Heritage Night
Adding to the festivities was a special Hispanic Heritage Night, thanks to the efforts of the Gresham Athletic Department, M.E.Ch.A Club (Latino Club), and the boys soccer team. Both the American and Mexican anthems were played; and the lineups were announced in both English and Spanish. There was also halftime festivities and food carts.