Postseason preparation for MLCA

The Lions take vengeance on Crusaders in shutout

MOSES LAKE - No hard feelings, just a little revenge for the Lions.

The Moses Lake Christian Academy faced off against its rival Northwest Christian, who knocked the Lions out of the district playoffs last year, avenged last year's loss with a shutout.

The 2-0 victory didn't come as easy as the rest of the season for Moses Lake, who was held to a penalty kick goal through 78 minutes of play before Brendon McCornack generated some offense with a dribbler past Northwest Christian's Karl Richardson at the close of the game.

"It was a good battle," said Moses Lake head coach Jason Ostrander. "It was the hardest battle I have had this season."

The match turned into a crusade between the two Christian schools who had nothing to lose in the contest.

It all began with the Crusaders passing through the Moses Lake defense as though they were cones placed on the field for practice drills. Nothing became of the opening possession and Moses Lake took over on its pursuit of breaking a scoreless game.

After a Daniel Timofeyev attempt at the Crusader goal, Derek Friehe put a ball over Northwest Christian's wall of players to McCornack, but into the hands of Crusader goalie Richardson.

Moses Lake continued to pass and weave through the apprehensive Northwest Christian defense looking for a shot at the goal and finally got their opportunity when Friehe was awarded a penalty kick on a Crusader foul.

Friehe shot past Richardson to a 1-0 lead 19 minutes into the game for the Lions. But, it also charged up Northwest Christian's defense that didn't let another ball sail into the net for 59 minutes of play.

And Moses Lake had plenty of opportunities.

McCornack took a pass from Jesse Bassett late in the first half and missed right with a header to an open goal.

"Their defense is a tough defense," Ostrander said as the Crusaders allowed 10 shots on goal. But the defense by Moses Lake allowed four shots as its offense continued to maintain possession.

In the second half, Moses Lake had two balls bounce off the sidebar and crossbar of the Crusaders goal, setting up Moses Lake's final goal of the game.

After Timofeyev hit off the crossbar, Moses Lake recovered and set up a break away from the defense on a pooch kick from Friehe to McCornack, who managed to punch the ball under Richardson's grasp.

The 2-0 win meant nothing else but give Ostrander and the Lions confidence against their rivals for playoffs.

"They knocked us out last year and kept us from going to state," Ostrander added.