Moses Lake picks up first win
Moses Lake's Corbin Earl, left, tries to get past Kennewick's Alejandro Rodriguez for a goal in the first half of Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Lions. Earl gave the Chiefs the go-ahead goal midway through the second half.<br>Brad Redford/ Columbia Basin Herald
Chiefs go unanswered in second half to drop Kennewick
MOSES LAKE — Bill Bertram got his first win as head coach of the Moses Lake boys soccer team.
The Chiefs pulled off a comeback to top Kennewick 3-1 Tuesday at Lions Field. It was only the second game of the season, but nonetheless, important in Bertram's mind to help build the confidence of his team.
"Wins mean a lot and I had to talk a lot of them into playing," Bertram said. "I had to change some philosophical things and make soccer fun again."
Bertram took over for Jason Green, who left the program after two years on the job, and it has been an overhaul, Bertram said.
"They just need to be constantly reminded that they are good soccer players," Bertram added.
Tuesday night, that reminder came after Kennewick broke open a 0-0 tie with a goal past freshman keeper Richie Ramirez, who was out of position on the play. Since that moment, Ramirez and his defenders shutdown the Lions and allowed the Chiefs an opportunity on offense.
Corbin Earl fought through traffic and fired at Kennewick's Daniel Valencia, only to have his shot knocked out of bounds by the keeper. Kennewick kept pursuit to add onto its goal following Moses Lake's corner kick and Gustavo Arnez took two shots at Moses Lake's goal and Ali Mirza-Mohammad added another shot, only to come up empty-handed.
Just before the break, Earl fired a long-distance throw from the sideline that bounced off one Moses Lake player and Mick Aney came up with the rebound and goal to tie the game at 1-1.
In the second half, the Chiefs missed a near scare after Ramirez tried to greet Kennewick's Romeo Canada on a breakaway, only to watch Canada cut past the Moses Lake defender. Jon Edwards came in and punched the ball away to prevent Kennewick from regaining the lead on the possession.
"Jon Edwards had a heck of a game back there," Bertram said.
Earl followed up with a goal in the 19th minute and Jacob Bruce knocked a loose ball of an Earl throw in to push Moses Lake to a 3-1 win.
"We have a lot of heart and didn't give up and gave them a lick," Bertram added.