Hot streak continues for Chiefs

MOSES LAKE — A key save, some clutch defense, and just a little more of everything was enough for the Moses Lake Chiefs soccer team on Saturday afternoon at Lions Field.

The Chiefs won their third consecutive match with a 2-1 win over Southridge in a Big 9 contest.

Moses Lake (4-3, 3-3) and the Suns battled back and forth in the first half with very few opportunities presenting themselves other than a Devin Petersen miss in front of goal that would have given the Chiefs the lead in the first five minutes.

Goaltender Derek Gonzales, starting due to disciplinary issues, made the first of his spectacular saves in the 27th minute when the Suns looked keen to score first on a breakaway in the 27th minute.

“Derrick really came through for us again today,” Moses Lake coach Bill Bertram said. “He is such an unselfish player.  It would be nice if his teammates could straighten things out so he could play his regular position (midfielder), though.”

Moments after the save, the Chiefs struck on a Petersen’s header off of a Omar Ramirez corner in the 30th minute and Moses Lake would lead 1-0 at the intermission.

“Chiefs attackers were able to use their quickness and technical play to create very close scoring chances in the first half,” Bertram said.

In the second half Moses Lake would continue to put on the pressure and would build their lead to 2-0 on an Alex Alcantar goal off of a long throw from Ramirez into the penalty area. Petersen flicked the ball with a header over the Southridge goalkeeper and Alcantar one-touched the ball in for the two-goal lead.

Moses Lake could have built the lead over the next dozen minutes but Alcantar and Kurtis Spotted-Bear both missed open opportunities for scores.

Southridge cut the deficit in half late in game and the Chiefs were able to hold on for the win when Gonzales stopped a Southridge penalty kick.

“Derek’s play in goal was key to the win,” Bertram said. “His save on the penalty was fantastic.”

Gonzales made seven saves while the Chiefs took 16 shots.

“Defenders Omar, Christian Manly, Kasey Grant, Josh Stucky, and Frank Ibarra shut down the highest scoring team in the Big Nine by anticipating ball movement, hard tackling, and winning balls in the air,” Bertram said. “Omar and Christian thoroughly dominated play in our end today.  Josh chose to play his best game of the year today – he was everywhere.”

The defense held Southridge to 12 shots in the match.

Selah 3, Ephrata 0

EPHRATA — Three first half goals in the game’s first 23 minutes was enough for Selah to put away Ephrata 3-0 on Saturday.

Matt Helsely made six saves for Ephrata (x) in the Central Washington Athletic Conference (CWAC) match.

Quincy 3, Ellensburg 1

QUINCY — Quincy continues their unbeaten run to start the season with a 3-1 win over Ellensburg on Saturday.

Quincy (6-0, 3-0) led 2-0 at the intermission behind a 33rd minute goal by the Jacks’ Luis Sorto on a penalty kick and Efren Alvarado’s tally five minutes later.

Ellensburg cut the lead in half halfway through the second half but the Jacks built the margin back up to two, when Manuel Hernandez struck in the 66th minute.