Huskies tied for top spot in soccer

OTHELLO – The Othello girls soccer squad squeaked by Selah 2-0 on the road Tuesday and clobbered Wapato 10-0 to remain tied with Ellensburg at 6-1 in CWAC play.

Huskie coach Bernie Garza deployed some players differently to allow the Huskies to create better individual match-ups.

“We had a good game plan,” he said. “I switched some players around to match their speed and physical play, and it worked. I put Victoria Cantu up at forward and Kaylee Martinez at midfield.”

Martinez and Elena Mendoza controlled the ball and the game from midfield. Garza also used Lizbeth Hernandez to defend Selah’s best player.

“Hernandez did great man marking their key player,” Garza said.

Rotating Kayla Guzman and Kaiden Quigley on defense helped Othello keep a fresh and rested defender on the Selah forwards.

The Huskies scored first when Nikki Velazquez booted home a penalty kick after Selah was called for a handball in the box.

Minutes later, Selah had the same penalty kick opportunity when the Huskies were called for a hand ball. However, Othello goalie Jenelle Garza made a diving save to preserve the Huskie 1-0 lead.

“That was the turning point of the game,” Garza said. “It seemed nothing went right for them, and everything was going right for us.”

Othello’s second goal came after Rilee Heist set up Velazquez with a through ball and Velazquez outran her defender and scored the insurance goal.

Saturday’s home match against Wapato was moved to Wahitis after the officials ruled the football field at Huskie Stadium was unplayable.

Even the rain could not dampen the Huskies’ spirit on senior day as Othello rolled to an easy 10-0 victory over the winless Wapato Wolves.

Senior forwards Velazquez and Martinez each had three goals and three assists and Jenelle Garza combined with Giselle in the goal to shut out Wapato.

Othello (6-1) travels to Ephrata (4-2) for a key game today before concluding the regular league season at Toppenish (1-6) on Thursday.

Othello and Ellensburg are tied at 6-1 with the Bulldogs holding a 3-2 victory over Othello.