Wahluke soccer concludes season at districts

MATTAWA — The Wahluke High School girls soccer team made it to the district tournament last week, but it didn’t go beyond, dropping a 6-1 contest to Naches on Saturday.

It could be the girls’ energy was spent. The battled SCAC East Champ Connell to a 1-0 outcome, trying to win and assure themselves of the district berth. They had no way of knowing Royal and Granger would lose the same night and open the door.

Everyone, even fans in Mattawa, knew the Connell contest was a mis-match. Everyone except the Wahluke players. They battled to the end.

“It was a really good game for us,” coach Arthur DeVictoria said.

Indeed. Now the girls, who lose only two seniors, know they can play with the best.

Saturday was another matter. Tired from the Connell battle, the girls made the long trip to Naches to face the SCAC West No. 2 team.

Naches got out to a quick 2-0 lead. Then Blanca Gutierrez made it 2-1 with a goal in the 35th minute. The half ended 3-1, and the Rangers pulled away in the second half.

All in all, DeVictoria was satisfied with the 5-win season. His girls improved all season and were tough at the end, beating Kiona-Benton to have a shot at district and nearly beating Connell.

“We won games we were expected to lose,” DeVictoria said. “Kiona-Benton was very good.”

The Warriors will lose only two starters from this team, and key players will return. Leading scorer Liliana Celaya is a junior, and second-leading scorer Celeste Lopez, is a freshman.

DeVictoria said there are a couple of good freshmen who could graduate to varsity next year. And he needs to find a girl who can play the goal.

“The girl we had in there this year believes she could help us better elsewhere on the field,” DeVictoria said. “And Celeste thinks she can be of more help in the midfield.”