Corvallis High jumped out to quick 1-0 lead over Jesuit, before the Crusaders tied the game up with nine minutes remaining, and the teams played to a 1-1 nonconference tie in boys soccer action at Taylor Field on Tuesday night.

CHS (0-0-1) struck in the first minute when junior midfielder Abraham Camacho scored. He found himself wide open with the ball about 10 yards away from the goal and fired a shot into the left corner of the net.

“I didn’t know how we were going to come out,” CHS coach John Callahan said. “All we have been doing is practicing, so it was good to come out and get that early goal and get the pregame jitters out of the way.”

Camacho said he was nervous before the game to face Jesuit, consistently one of the state’s top teams. It didn’t take him long to calm down.

“After we walked down the field, I realized we matched up pretty nice with these guys, so I didn’t back down after any tackles,” Camacho said. “I went in with everything I had and I was looking to take shots when I had the chance.

“First shot, it was a good one. The keeper did a good job, but it still went in.”

While Camacho’s shot gave the Spartans an early confidence boost, it sent Jesuit on the offensive and kept the CHS defense working hard, especially sophomore goalkeeper Nick Creswick, who was making his first start.

He succeeds Ivan Sanchez, one of the top keepers in the state the past two seasons. For the most part he held his own.

“It was intense,” Creswick said. “I was pretty nervous because it was my first varsity start. It was pretty hard back there, (Jesuit) had a lot of long throw-ins.”

After making his first save, Creswick said he became more confident and focused on just playing soccer. He showed good awareness, timing most of his saves well and making some leaping grabs.

The Crusaders finally scored on a header by Tyler Smalley in the 71st minute .

“I was getting marked, a guy was screening me back there,” Creswick said. “They played a short ball inside with the guy guy screening me, they put the header right past me.”

In the future, Creswick said he will be more vocal and let his teammates know when he needs help so he doesn’t end up in that situation. Callahan, however, was very impressed with Creswick’s play.

“He did fantastic,” Callahan said. “The goal wasn’t his fault. He scared me a couple times, but he came through and did enough to get us through, it was great.”

CHS Senior defender Zeit Cai almost scored twice in the second half, once on a corner kick in 50th minute that was barely tipped over the goal by the goalie.

Corvallis faces another early season test when it hosts South Salem at 4:30 p.m. Friday, but Callahan said Tuesday’s night game was a big step for a his young squad.

“I can’t help but think this is going to give us some direction,” Callahan said. “We know where we stand.We know we can play with a pretty good squad, but we are going to keep going and checking where we are.”

Corvallis 1, Jesuit 1

First half

CHS - Abraham Camacho, 1:00

Second half

JHS - Tyler Smalley, 71:00