He watched as a traditional power derailed Auburn Mountainview’s boys basketball team’s season at the regional round of the state tournament.

Now, Christian Rotter hopes to take the lessons he learned in February against Rainier Beach can be applied to the Lions’ boys soccer team.

The soccer team followed the basketball squad in winning its first Class 3A West Central/Southwest bi-district tournament Saturday with a 4-0 win against Capital at Highline Memorial Stadium.

The win propelled the Lions (16-2-0) for their third consecutive state tournament.

“Hopefully, we’re the Rainier Beach of soccer,” Rotter said of the Vikings, who have won nine state boys basketball championships since 1988.

Auburn Moutainview, which has won only one match at state in its history, will settle for its first title. Rotter acknowledges there will be plenty of competition when state begins next week to achieve that, but he likes the Lions’ prospects.

“I think we’re going to be hard to beat,” Rotter said.

There is a simple reason behind that: depth.

“You can’t do this with one or two good players,” Rotter said.

Auburn Mountainview displayed its depth behind a 22-5 shot advantage against the Cougars (11-3-3). The Lions also had four different goal scorers: Rotter (14th minute), Gustavo Portillo (37th), Duvan Vaca-Trujillo (59th) and Erik DeAnda (60th). DeAnda, who has 24 goals, took six shots.

Capital coach Andrew Lopez said two of his starting defenders could not get out of work commitments to play.

“That’s why the disorganization occurred.” he said. “We’re a team that builds out of the back a lot, so when we don’t have our starting backline it makes it difficult to impose our game that we normally do, which is ball on the ground and moving the ball quickly.”

Rotter said he thought his team’s success was a combination of good play and Capital disorganization.

Auburn Mountainview took advantage with its most lopsided win since a 7-0 victory against April 18 against Lakes. The Lions have won six consecutive matches.

Rotter, who ran track last spring, is enjoying the experience.

“It has been a great year,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for more than this – doing it with my friends.”

Elsewhere

Auburn Riverside 3, Wilson 1: The Ravens advanced to state for the second consecutive year with a come-from-behind victory in a loser-out contest Saturday at Highline Memorial.

Senior midfielder Brandon Gonzalez scored goals in the 50th and 52nd. He also assisted sophomore midfielder Trent Miller’s goal in the 72nd.

“I feel like his game becomes more of an impact the tougher and tougher it gets,” said Auburn Riverside coach Robyn Saarenas, adding that Gonzalez now has 15 goals and 10 assists this season.

The Ravens (14-3-0) earned the No. 4 seed out of the district.

“The (first) was kind of the turning point,” Gonzalez said. “When I hit that second one our team knew that it was done and we just had to keep pushing forward.”

The Rams (9-7-0) led at halftime after sophomore forward Jayson Ray scored in the 32nd.