Lions cruise into state semifinals

MLCA's perfect season still intact

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Christian Academy had little trouble with Evergreen Lutheran in their state quarterfinal match up Saturday, dispatching the Eagles 3-0 to move into the final four of the B State Tournament.

The Lions got off to a bit of a slow start, giving Evergreen Lutheran a pair of early scoring opportunities that were saved by MLCA goalkeeper Taylor McNamara.

As the first half progressed, the Lions began to establish control of the game and the ball, increasing the pressure on a suspect Eagles' defense.

The pressure paid off in the form of a Brendan McCornack goal in the game's 19th minute. On the play, Phillip Friehe sent a pass toward the right goalpost that McCornack picked up and drove across the face of the goal into the left corner for a 1-0 Lions' lead.

After taking the lead, the Lions allowed Evergreen Lutheran very few good scoring opportunities. For the remainder of the first half, the MLCA defenders set up a wall near midfield, keeping the ball in the Eagles' half of the field and allowing the Lions' offense to continue to attack the goal.

"It takes us a while to get warmed up," said MLCA coach Scott McCornack. "Once we scored, then it was just a matter of pressing in."

The Lions started the second half with a 1-0 lead, but quickly added another McCornack goal, this time coming off a Jared Detrolio pass just over a minute after play resumed.

The Lions tacked on their third and final goal during stoppage time, when a rebound of a McCornack shot on goal was driven into the net by Jesse Bassett.

With a strong wind at their backs and the Evergreen Lutheran defenders unable to contain the Lions' forwards, MLCA spent most of the second half making run after run at the Eagles' goal.

Were it not for a few near misses and some key saves from the Evergreen Lutheran goalkeeper, the Lions could have added several more goals to their total.

"I thought he did an excellent job," said the Lions' coach of the Evergreen Lutheran goalkeeper. "Their defense didn't help him out."

While the Eagles had the athletes to match up with MLCA, the Lions proved to be the superior soccer team.

"You can fill a team with athletes, but soccer players will eventually beat you," noted coach McCornack.

The Lions next face Northwest Christian in the state semifinals this Friday. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Curtis High School in Tacoma.