State berth eludes Othello Huskie soccer club this year
Bob Barrett Photo - Othello's Elena Mendoza falls to the turf to avoid a collision with Ellensburg goalie Rose Sitton who covered the ball to prevent Mendoza from scoring.
Bob Barrett Photo - Othello's Nikki Velazquez boots the ball toward the Bulldog goal despite the defense of Ellensburg's Tamzen Shissler.
OTHELLO — The state tournament play-in cross-overs between the CWAC and the Great Northern League were a sticky proposition for the Othello Huskies this fall.
The Huskie volleyball and the Huskie soccer teams both suffered season-ending losses during the cross-over competition. Clarkston beat the Huskie soccer team, 3-0, and Cheney defeated the Othello volleyball squad, 3-2.
Othello’s soccer squad beat Prosser, 3-1, in the opening round of district play before losing, 3-0, at Selah in the semi-final match.
The Huskies beat Ellensburg, 1-0, at Grandview last Wednesday to finish third in CWAC district tournament and earn the right to host the second place Clarkston Bantams from the Great Northern league. Clarkston’s 3-0 victory over Othello ended the Huskies season one victory away from earning a berth in the 2A state tournament.
Still, it was a stellar season. Othello accepted a trophy as CWAC co-league champs prior to the game at Grandview.
“It was nice getting the trophy before the game,” Huskie coach Bernie Garza said. “The girls were really motivated for the game and came out aggressive and ready to go.”
Tori Cantu scored off a Nikki Velazquez corner kick in the 60th minute to give Othello a 1-0 victory at Grandview in the game for third/fourth place.
“We had two consecutive corner kicks and, on the second one, Nikki crossed a line drive into the six yard box, and Tori Cantu scored on a low hard shot to the left corner,” Garza said.
Although the Huskies dominated the play in the first half, they could not put the ball in the back of the net. After Cantu’s score, the Huskies dug in defensively and held on for the victory to advance to the cross-over with Clarkston.
Huskie hopes were high. Othello has had some success at the state level in girls soccer, but it has been a while. The girls had last qualified for state in 2010.
“It has been 10 years since the girls have had any kind of success,” Garza said. “The last league title was in 2006.”
Othello lost in the first round of state in 1993 and 1995 and in the quarter-finals in 1996. The Huskies made it to the semi-final round in 1997 and won the state championship in 1998.
However, this year Othello could not get by the second place Great Northern Bantams from Clarkston.
“We struggled in the first half, without starting goalkeeper Jenelle Garza,” Garza said. “Our defense was not prepared for Clarkston’s speed. By the time we adjusted to them and man-marked them, it was too late.”
Great Northern League champion East Valley swamped Ellensburg, 6-0, to give the GNL teams a clean sweep of the cross-overs with the CWAC clubs.
“I am very proud of the girls this season,” Garza said. “It was a good season, not great, but good. We came up short this last game. The offense did not produce, and the defense made some key mistakes.”
The Huskies will lose six starters from the team that finished in a four-way tie for the CWAC title. Senior starters graduating include Nikki Velazquez, Tori Cantu, Kaylee Martinez, Lena Mendoza, Julissa Garza and Jenelle Garza. Senior non-starters include Liz Hernandez, Ignacia Lopez and Amanda Mendoza.
“Farewell to the seniors,” coach Garza said. “They will be missed.”