Chiefs drop match to Lewis and Clark

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake dropped its second straight match, this time under dubious circumstances.

With about two minutes remaining in the game, Lewis and Clark was able to score the go-ahead goal while the Chiefs searched for a penalty.

"My kids just stopped and were looking for an offside call, which is a no-no," head coach Bill Bertram said. "They stopped, Lewis and Clark ran on to the play and finished it. We didn't have any defenders in the area."

Moses Lake's 2-1 defeat is its second in a row after relinquishing another lead to Ellensburg on Saturday.

The Chiefs were able to get on the board early when Sean Cotton's aim was true on a penalty kick early in the match. However, with just seconds remaining in the first half, Lewis and Clark was able to notch the equalizer the two team's entered intermission tied, 1-1.

Both defenses were stout in the second half until Lewis and Clark was able to escape Lions Field with a 2-1 win behind a late goal.

"Lewis and Clark is typically in the run of the regional championships," Bertram said. "They're a good team, we play them every year and we're competitive with them. 2-1 match loss to Lewis and Clark is not the result you want, but it doesn't indicate anything other than it was a tight contest."

Bertram and his staff will look to get some players adjusted to their new positions before Columbia Basin Big Nine play starts April 8.

"We just want to shore up the misconceptions that they have about positioning," he said. "When you move people around and they play positions they haven't been playing for very long then we need to make sure that they're aware of where they need to be and what they need to do."

Bertram isn't overly concerned about the team's two straight losses to open the season.

"I don't think there's anything that cries out for us to raise up all the flags and start this doomsday vigil," he said. "We're not going to do that yet."

Moses Lake will attempt to end its skid against Gonzaga Prep 1 p.m. Saturday at home.