Huskies are CWAC soccer co-champs

OTHELLO - Behind two goals by Ivan M. Lopez who was assisted on both place Jorge Campos, the Othello Huskies soccer team can claim rights to at least half of a Central Washington Athletic Conference (CWAC) championship.

Othello defeated the last team to stand in their way, the Ellensburg Bulldogs, 3-1 last night and are now co-champs with East Valley.

The Huskies will be the league's No. 2 seed in the district playoffs when they begin play on Saturday against a team yet to be determined. 

"The goal of the match was when we were tied 1-1 I told them the next goal will win the match," Othello head coach Bernie Garza said. "Carlos Ramos scored the go-ahead goal and it was just incredible. He just dribbled, dribbled, dribbled, and scored like he was in his backyard."

Othello's defense stepped up and with the lead pressed enough to get Lopez his second goal in the 69th minute.

He scored earlier in the match's 26 minute.

Ramos' goal came in the 59th minute after Ellensburg evened things up immediately after Lopez's initial strike.

"The main thing is that I like how our defense is playing," Garza said. "They have been solid and today our offense scored three but we need to pick it up a notch."

ROYAL 8

Kiona-Benton 0

BENTON CITY - Royal bounced back from a heartbreaking loss to Wahluke on Friday and took out their angst against Kiona-Benton last night in an 8-0 rout.

The Knights (14-2, 12-2) are the South Central Athletic Conference's (SCAC) second seed and will have a bye in the district playoffs. They open up their post season on Tuesday.

"This match is a tricky one because Ki-Be is interested in getting numbers behind the ball and doing whatever possible to frustrate our attack," Royal head coach Jens Jensen said. "It can be difficult to break down a team, especially following the disappointment from the Wahluke match, but the boys kept at it and were able to patiently find opportunities to stretch the defense and pick up on loose balls and defensive mistakes to get their goals."

Adam Martinez scored four goals - two in each half - and Shaq Ledezma tallied two scores for Royal, who got an additional goal apiece from Jose Nava and Enrique Torres.

WARDEN 4

Manson 2

WARDEN - An early two-goal lead stood up for the Warden Cougars who defeated Manson 4-2 yesterday in a league match.

Hector Camacho scored and assisted Carlos Gomez for another strike as the Cougars (7-6, 6-3) led 2-0 at halftime.

Manson rallied to tie after halftime but Elias Valencia tallied two goals late to cement the win.

"I am very pleased with effort the kids showed," Warden head coach Ed Aguilar said. "We beat Manson who went to state last year."

The Cougars clinched third place in the North Central Washington 2B league and begin Class 2B playoff play next weekend.

EPHRATA 2

Selah 1

SELAH - Needing a combination of events to get into the district playoffs, the Ephrata Tigers did their part last night.

Ephrata (5-10-1, 4-5) defeated their second straight CWAC opponent ranked ahead of them by winning 2-1 at Selah to add the Vikings to their conquests of top teams such as Othello, whom they beat last weekend.

"It's been what we have been building towards I just wish it could have been sooner," Ephrata head coach Keith Laughlin said. "They are working for and playing for each other. I am really pleased with how they are playing the game."

Ramon Sanchez scored in the first half and got an assist from AJ Stortz who also punched one in in the match's 69th minute.

"It was a very well played match," Laughlin said. "It was a match with basically an equal number of shots. There was a lot of midfield play and the defenses were playing well. We got the better of a good team."

The Tigers would know by the morning if they would play in a district tiebreaker later today.