Chiefs end season strong, playoffs await
MOSES LAKE — They’ve done their job now it’s a matter of waiting and seeing for the Moses Lake Chiefs’ soccer team.
The Chiefs improved their home record at Larson Field with a resounding 4-0 win over Eastmont on Senior Day Saturday and now must wait to see where they are seeded for the Big 9 District tournament.
Either way, Moses Lake (10-5, 9-5) completed its best regular season mark in 11 years according to coach Bill Bertram said.
Not too bad after losing three out our first four games,” Bertram said. “The players on this team are so hard working and easy to coach. They constantly look for ways to improve, seek answers to tactical questions, and genuinely like playing together. Now they’re being rewarded.”
Bertram and his squad won’t know their final seeding until the season wraps up Tuesday with three matches involving Big 9 teams.
If they finish fourth or fifth they would host a playoff game on Saturday. Currently they rest in fourth but could drop down depending on those pending results.
The Chiefs bettered last season’s 9-7 mark and ended the season winning nine of their last 11 matches.
Moses Lake led 2-0 at halftime behind two Devin Petersen goals - in the 16th an 29th minutes - with Derrick Gonzales setting up the first strike.
His second score came off of a penalty kick.
Forward Kurtis Spotted-Bear put together a two-goal salvo himself in the second half, popping in two scores in the 53rd and 61st minute with assists from Gonzales and Petersen.
Chiefs goalies Aaron Molina and Luis Villa combined for the clean sheet, making five saves between the two of them.
Moses Lake outshot Eastmont 18-7.
Warden 3, Bridgeport 1
WARDEN — Getting a sneak preview of life in the 2B ranks next year, the Warden Cougars came out feeling good about their chances.
The host Cougars pulled away 3-1 against their future league brethren Bridgeport as Warden wraps its final season in the 1A ranks.
Hector Camacho’s goal in the 15th minute gave Warden an early 1-0 lead and Martin Aguilar’s penalty kick 10 minutes after halftime gave Warden a two-goal cushion.
Carlos Gomez made it 3-0 for Warden (7-6, 3-4) before Bridgeport was able to sneak one in before time expired.
Quincy 1, Ellensburg 0
QUINCY — Luis Sorto’s goal Saturday was enough for the Quincy Jacks to bounce back from their only loss of the season.
Sorto’s tally gave Quincy a 1-0 win over Ellensburg and helped them recover from their first loss of the season Thursday night in Othello.
Quincy (14-1, 13-1) already clinched the Central Washington Athletic Conference (CWAC) North title earlier last week.
Selah 4, Ephrata 0
SELAH — Ephrata’s post-season hopes remain despite a 4-0 setback at Selah on Saturday.
The Tigers remain in fourth place of the CWAC North, one game ahead of Ellensburg and the last district playoff spot.
Selah took a 3-0 first half lead and never were threatened as they clinched the No. 2 spot in the North.
Connell 2, Royal 0
CONNELL — A tough 2-0 loss Saturday at Connell ended the Royal Knights’ hopes of a South Central Athletic Conference (SCAC) East title but their playoff status remains intact.
Connell outshot Royal (9-4) 16-12 and won behind a goal scored in each half.
Royal is in third place, one game ahead of Warden for the final East playoff spot for the district playoffs.