Chiefs soccer now has experience to go with talent

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake trotted off the Apple Bowl turf after a 1-0 loss in a winner-to-state game against Wenatchee.

There was dejection, but not devastation.

With no seniors, the Chiefs knew their time was coming. Fast forward nine months and now there is experience to go with the talent that started to cultivate in 2015.

No more starry-eyed freshman and sophomores; the tentative varsity roster has a combined 16 juniors and seniors.

“Almost our whole team is juniors and seniors and I’ve got that feeling that I had my freshman year,” senior captain Abby Rathbun said. “We’re super solid and coming off that loss by one to go to state, I mean, that definitely made us really hungry and these girls I know they’re going to be working their butts off to get back and go to state all the way.”

Since the departure of 2014’s stellar senior class, which included now Washington State University forward Alysha Overland, Moses Lake has steadily worked itself back into being a contender in the Columbia Basin Big Nine.

The Chiefs were unceremoniously bounced in the 2015 district play-in game by Davis before coming a win away from the state tournament last season.

“This year we’re going to come at them hard and we’re going to give it our all because for a lot of us it is our last year so we’re going to go in with no regrets,” Cora Bruneel said.

Coupled with the numerous returners, Moses Lake also receives a boost health-wise. Junior forward Madi Krogh returns to compliment Rathbun on the attack.

“They are exciting players to watch ... usually I’m more concerned about my defense to be up to par, but I think this year our offense is going to score some goals and I’m really excited for that,” head coach Ric Char said. “It’s the defense where I’ve got to work on this year.”

In addition to first-teamer Rathbun, Moses Lake returns five all-league players: Denali Knowles, Morgan Skone, Taya Rogers, Madelyn Balsz and Bruneel.

West Valley joined the CBBN three years ago and has since rattle off consecutive state runner-up finishes in 2015 and 2016. The Rams lost Player of the Year Natalie Nagle to graduation, but will remain the team to beat.

Wenatchee also has a strong contingent coming back and with an overall improved league Moses Lake cannot afford to overlook a single opponent.

But with the amount of experience on the roster, Char doesn’t seen complacency as a problem.

“Huge leadership, huge maturity ... it’s already a different culture already with the older girls. Pretty typically we have a young squad, but now we are full of seniors and juniors ... the program is looking good. I think very mature and experienced.”

2017 schedule

Sept. 2: Moses Lake vs. Post Falls, ID, 1 p.m.

Sept. 6: Moses Lake vs. Lewis and Clark, 7 p.m.

Sept. 9: Moses Lake at Ferris, 1 p.m.

Sept. 12: Moses Lake vs. Eastmont, 7 p.m.

Sept. 14: Moses Lake at Hanford, 7 p.m.

Sept. 19: Moses Lake vs. West Valley, 7 p.m.

Sept. 21: Moses Lake at Davis, 5 p.m.

Sept. 26: Moses Lake at Wenatchee, 7 p.m.

Sept. 28: Moses Lake at Eisenhower, 7 p.m.

Oct. 3: Moses Lake vs. Sunnyside, 7 p.m.

Oct. 5: Moses Lake at Eastmont, 7 p.m.

Oct. 12: Moses Lake at West Valley, 7 p.m.

Oct. 17: Moses Lake vs. Davis, 7 p.m.

Oct. 19: Moses Lake vs. Wenatchee, 7 p.m.

Oct. 24: Moses Lake vs. Eisenhower, 7 p.m.

Oct. 26: Moses Lake at Sunnyside, 7 p.m.