Moses Lake boys soccer wins district championship for the first time in 15 years
Adrian Vasquez (1) fires a free kick during the first half of the District 6 4A Boys Soccer Tournament at Lions Field Tuesday. Vasquez scored two goals and the Chiefs won, 4-3.
MOSES LAKE - After three unanswered Wenatchee goals, it looked as if Moses Lake boys soccer would miss its opportunity for the school's first district championship since the 20th century.
However, trailing 3-2 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the match, Adrian Vasquez was able to chase down a pass from Andrew Camren and almost gingerly redirect the ball past the Panther keeper for the game-tying goal.
It was a play few could make.
"He's a very skilled player," Sean Cotton said. "He does his work. We have two of the best, in my personal opinion, two of the best forwards in our league."
Johnny Cortez, who plays opposite Vasquez, asked Cotton jokingly if he meant the two best in the league, period.
He has a point.
Led by Vasquez and Cortez up front and Cotton in the midfield, Moses Lake led the Big Nine with 29 goals scored in league play.
"There are few players in this league that are as good as my two forwards," head coach Bill Bertram said. "If the right doesn't get you the left will, it's one of those deals ... I think they're both tied right now with 14 goals apiece for the year."
After Vasquez's game-tying goal, the two teams ended regulation grid locked at 3-3. But just two minutes into overtime, Vasquez found Cortez in front of the Wenatchee goal who powered home the game-winner.
Moses Lake defeated Wenatchee 4-3 and secured its first district championship since 1999.
"It's been a dry spell," Bertram said. "We've got Adrian and Johnny up front. They've been our go-to guys with Sean and it's pretty fitting that those two combine on the last goal."
It looked as if the route to the district title and state tournament would be easy for the Chiefs, who opened up a 2-0 lead within the first 10 minutes of play.
Camren opened the scoring on a free kick from 20 yards out in the eighth minute and Vasquez scored the first of his two goals just two minutes later off an assist from Alex Reed.
However, using physical play Wenatchee was able to knot the score 2-2 at halftime and take a 3-2 lead early in the second half.
"It was a war, started bleeding," Cortez said. "It was a war out there but we won."
With the win, Moses Lake will meet the No. 7 seed from District 3/4 May 20 at home.