Wahluke wins 1, ties 1

MATTAWA - The Wahluke High School soccer team advanced its season record to 5-1-2 last week with 1-1 tie against Highland and a 2-0 victory over Chelan.

Highland, 2-0 in the SCAC West, and Wahluke, 1-1 in the SCAC East, locked up in a defensive battle. Wahluke took eight shots, and Highland had six. Ulysses Gonzalez of the Warriors turned in five saves.

One of the saves nearly went in, but Gonzalez made a spectacular mid-air correction. He dove to his right for a ball that was going left. It was tipped during flight and its course was re-directed to Gonzalez's left.

Gonzalez was able to get a foot on the ball before he fell to the ground. The team awarded him the game ball afterward.

Wahluke had the early lead, scoring in the second minute. Tony Espindola caught a pass from Emmanuel Hidalgo and re-directed it into the goal. Highland scored before half-time, and then the defenses took over.

The match at Chelan on Saturday was about as windy as windy can be. Chelan won the coin flip and chose to take the wind.

"You use the wind if you can," DeVictoria said.

The wind helped Chelan defensively. Wahluke was held scoreless for a half.

Today, the Warriors host Kiona-Benton in a SCAC East match. Thursday they'll have another home SCAC match with Connell. Saturday Naches will come to Wahluke for a non-leaguer.

The Connell contest is the key match of the week for all SCAC East schools.