Chiefs struggle at home against Lewis and Clark

MOSES LAKE - After a 3-0 loss at home against Lewis and Clark to open the season, Moses Lake head coach Ric Char isn't ready to hit the panic button.

After all, the Chiefs did begin last season with a 4-0 loss to Post Falls. The Chiefs eventually went on to win a league and district championship.

So, a loss to start the year isn't a cause for concern says Char.

"Nothing that concerns me long term," he said. "We've got some things that we have addressed that we'll work on for sure. There's just a lot of stuff going on for the first couple of weeks.

"We've got to put priorities on things to work on. I take the responsibility on that, but I think the girls played well for their first full game out."

Entering Tuesday's match against the Tigers, the Chiefs were without several key players.

Among those sitting out due to injury was 2013 First Team All-Conference midfielder and team captain McKenna Walker.

Injured defenders Ali Dieringer, Megan Mullin, Zaira Villanueva and Holly Wise joined Walker on the sidelines.

With several upperclassmen out, freshmen Jamie Loera, Evelyn Thompson and Abby Rathbun played significant minutes for the Chiefs.

"A little thin on the bench, but we've got a lot of good JV girls who are coming up that we can just bring up in an instant, but we've got a solid varsity that can fill in and put some quality minutes in," Char said. "We'll do that until we can get our injuries healthy then we'll go from there."

The Tigers got on the board first with 22 minutes left in the first half when a deflection off a corner kick took a hope over goalkeeper Jeanette Alvarado's head. There was some confusion on whether the ball crossed into the goal, but after a brief conference by the referees the goal held up and the Tigers led 1-0.

Moses Lake had a few opportunities in the first half to tie the score, but couldn't find a seam through the Lewis and Clark defense.

Alysha Overland missed a shot on goal with 15 minutes to go in the half, while Loera's header off a corner kick with eight minutes left in the half sailed over the cross bar.

Lizzy McGraw also had a couple shots go wide.

Overland - the reigning Big 9 Player of the Year - saw multiple Tiger defenders the whole night.

"I can definitely tell that they remember me from last year because of how they were playing on me, but I think instead of just trying to kick and run around them with my speed I'm going to control it more and play back possibly and do a one, two pass and hope that works to get around them," she said.

With increased attention Overland is sure to receive as the season wears on, Char expects the rest of his forwards and midfielders to take advantage of their opportunities.

"If they're going to double and triple team her - they've identified her in this game as well - that just means that the other girls that are open need to step up and be successful and put the pressure off of Alysha," he said.

Lewis and Clark scored early in the second half and put the match out of reach when a third goal sailed over the outstretched arm of Alvarado with 18 minutes left in the match.

Moses Lake will look to get its first win on the road Saturday against Emerald Ridge.

"I think we need to just erase this game, get past it, start fresh and just play how we know how to play," Overland said.