3 Chiefs make All-State teams

MOSES LAKE - A banner year for the Moses Lake boys soccer team was highlighted when three Chiefs were named to the WSSCA All-State 2014 Spring Soccer Teams.

Forwards Johnny Cortez and Adrian Vasquez made the First and Second Team, respectively, while midfielder Sean Cotton made Honorable Mention.

The statewide recognition caps a year in which Moses Lake won the 4A District 6 Championship and advanced to the 4A State Boys Soccer Tournament for the first time since 1999.

Cortez and Vasquez led the Moses Lake attack with 14 goals each on the season.

"Between the two of them they scored, you know whatever it is ... 27, 28 goals," head coach Bill Bertram said. "That was half of our goal scoring production with those two guys alone."

Cortez also showcased his playmaking ability throughout the season, leading the team with 13 assists.

"Johnny's a first teamer obviously because he's so well-rounded," Bertram said. "He scores as many goals as he gives assists. That's huge, that's a very unselfish player."

Along with the two explosive forwards, Cotton did a little bit of everything for the Chiefs in the midfield.

Cotton worked hard for his opportunities and coined the term "sweaty goals" to describe how he scored.

"He was the guy that, you know, he didn't have a lot of long drives, he didn't have a lot of running through three or four guys with the ball at his feet," Bertram said. "He had a bunch of headers, he had a bunch of second chance opportunities that he scored."

The trio of All-State seniors will be missed by the Moses Lake program not only on the field, but in the classroom as well.

All three set an exceptional example of what a student-athlete is supposed to be, which Bertram appreciated.

"This is something that we strive for," he said. "Yeah it's extra-curricular, yeah it's soccer, yeah it's a high school sport, but first and foremost we're student-athletes.

"You got to do it in the classroom before you can get out on the field. And that's another big thing that we're sort of proud of."

Other Columbia Basin honorees included Othello midfielder Jason Rodriguez who made the 2A Second Team.

Quincy forward Francisco Alejandrez and head coach Arturo Guerrero were named the 1A MVP and Coach of the Year, respectively.

Fellow Jacks midfielder Vincente Zepeda and defender Pedro Reyes joined Alejandrez on the First Team.