Warriors Soccer fall to Bears and Eagles

Bob Kirkpatrick/The Sun Tribune - Jessica Macias (18) sends a penalty kick past the outstretched hands of Connell's keeper Morgan Smith.

Bob Kirkpatrick/The Sun Tribune - Yecsemari Gutierrez's shot sails wide of its mark.

by Bob Kirkpatrick Sun Tribune
| October 9, 2017 1:00 AM

Bob Kirkpatrick/The Sun Tribune - Yecsemari Gutierrez's shot sails wide of its mark.

MATTAWA — The Warriors had a rough go of it on the pitch this past week, dropping a 2-1 shootout to Connell at home Thursday, Sept. 28, and a 4-2 match on the road at Ki-Be on the 26th.

Junior defensive player Ilse Enriquez’s goal 19 minutes into the first half of the match put visiting Connell up top 1-0. Wahluke had its chances to tie and take the lead, but several shots were off the mark. A push in the back on the Eagles Judith Artiaga Rayas drew a foul and a yellow card and Jessica Macias calmly stepped up to the 12-yard line and drilled the penalty kick past the Connell keeper to level it 1-all at the 30 minute-mark.

Neither team was able to score in the second half or in overtime and the game went to a shootout that went in favor of the Eagles.

Ki-Be 4

Wahluke 2

BENTON CITY — The Warriors dropped a 4-2 contest to the East Conference leading Bears Tuesday, Sept. 26. Wahluke jumped out front 1-0 on a goal from Ana Andrade off a Claudia Olivares assist about 15 minutes into the match. Two costly mistakes put Ki-Be up 2-1 at intermission.

The Bears added an early second half goal to push their lead to 3-1.

Jessica Macias converted a penalty kick at the 75th minute, and the Warriors were right back in it. But a late goal on a counter attack sealed the win for the Bears.

“We played great soccer for the first 30 minutes, but three mistakes on defense were the difference maker,” coach Cele Lopez said. “Ki-Be is a solid team with excellent players and took advantage of our mistakes. But I’m super proud of my girls – they did really good and I’m sure they’ll do better next time. It’s not easy to score on Ki-Be and we did twice.”

With two consecutive ties and losses in its last four matches, the Warriors now find themselves at 3-3 in in league play, 3-3-2 overall and in the middle of the pack in the East Conference standings.

“I’m not disappointed in my team with two ties and back-to-back losses…just a little frustrated because I know the girls potential,” coach Cele Lopez said. “We’ve a had a lack of communication and a few mistakes on defense, but the team is working hard at practice and I feel we’ll do better and sooner or later that hard work will click in the games…I feel it coming.”

Wahluke had an opportunity to right the ship in a home match with Mabton Tuesday. The results of the contest were not available at press time.