Warden uses balance to knock off Connell
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Warden forward Aaliyah Escamilla tries to take the ball from a Connell defender.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Warden's Ashlyn Yamane passes the ball against Connell.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Warden forward Aubree Skone (3) tries to get to the ball between Connell defenders.
WARDEN — Warden junior defender Cathy Mendoza jostled Isle Enriquez down the field, keeping the Connell defender’s shot from having any real velocity toward the goal. Ellie Conahan made the routine save and Warden’s defense bounced back from a difficult trip to Benton City in a 4-1 victory against Connell.
Connell scored once in the first half, but was held to minimal opportunities in the second.
“I even was able to utilize some of my other players,” head coach Hannah Mohs said.
The cold and the rain coupled with a missed chance to share the league lead on Tuesday made for a slow start on Thursday.
However, in the eighth minute, Aubree Skone took a pass from Bailey Whitney, made on touch past a defender and beat Connell goalie Morgan Smith in a one-on-one scenario.
Skone’s chances have been limited lately due to constant double teams, but she was able to free herself and give Warden an early lead.
10 minutes later, Grace Richins drew a foul and Whitney lined up for a free kick. Whitney, known for her big leg, was able to place the ball just below the crossbar so Smith’s attempt at a save tipped the ball into the net.
“Just don’t kick it over,” Whitney said. “Because I do that a lot.”
Connell scored its lone goal in the 22nd minute.
Ana Hernandez found space in front of Warden’s net and scored after a free kick made its way to her feet.
With Connell’s defense clogging the middle in hopes to prevent a through ball, Warden needed deft passing to score its next goal.
Skone crossed the ball to Aaliyah Escamilla who played it back to Grace Richins. Richins found Ashlyn Yamane to her left. Yamane set her self and put a shot over the hands of Smith into the top right corner.
Escamilla added one more goal in stoppage time on a shot right in front of Connell’s net that she was able to place underneath Smith.
As the playoffs inch closer, Warden’s balance was an encouraging sign for Mohs.
“Aubree’s been double-teamed quite a bit so utilizing our other players and allowing her to be serving her team rather than just the goal scorer has been a huge opportunity to open up our other players,” she said.
First half — 1, W, Skone (Whitney), 8:00. 2, W, Whitney, 18:00. 3, C, Hernandez, 22:00.
Second half — 4, W, Yamane (Richins), 55:00. 5, W, Escamilla (Skone), 80:00.