Chiefs soccer overpowers Richland

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Chiefs' got a bit of a monkey off their backs with a 3-1 victory over the visiting Richland Bombers in Columbia Basin League soccer action Saturday.

"Richland has owned us for the past four seasons," said Moses Lake coach Bill Bertram. "Today, we owned them."

The Chiefs stuck first in the 15th minute of play, when Richie Ramirez took a pass from Seth Bruneel and quickly drove the ball into the top-right corner of the Richland goal. Eight minutes later, Mick Aney sent a centering pass from the corner to an attacking Bruneel, who got past a Richland defender to blast a shot from 10 yards out that gave Moses Lake a 2-0 lead.

Richland got on the board with a goal in the 57th minute, but Ramirez answered with eight minutes to play to give the Chiefs an insurance goal and their 3-1 margin of victory.

"They didn't have an answer for the speed and fitness of Seth (Bruneel), Mick (Aney) and Richie (Ramirez) up front," said Bertram. "Richland's defense never got a chance to rest today."

Moses Lake's defense outplayed the Bombers as well, with defenders Bobby Alwine, Garin Bergeson, Alec Robillard and Isac Bergeson earning high praise for their efforts from Bertram.

"Isac (Bergeson), Garin (Bergeson), Bobby (Alwine) and Alec (Robillard) pretty much shut down Richland's vaunted offensive attack," remarked the Moses Lake coach of a group that held Richland to just eight shots on goal.

"Mitch Harder had his best outing of the year in goal and made some incredible saves," added Bertram.

Moses Lake improved to 3-2 on the season and now stand at 2-1 in CBL play.