Rathbun's hat trick highlights senior night victory for Moses Lake
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake forward Abby Rathbun scores past Eisenhower goalie Jaqueline Renteria.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake midfielder Christina Mullan handles the ball past Eisenhower's Bryana Rivera.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake goalie Erin Manly, who has been sidelined with injuries, makes a save against Eisenhower.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake forward Madi Krogh (2) collides with Eisenhower goalie Jaqueline Renteria.
Connor Vanderweyst/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake forward Kennady Schlagel tries to steal the ball from Eisenhower's Bryana Rivera.
MOSES LAKE — The last two years of varsity soccer had been frustrating for goalie Erin Manly.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears wiped away her junior and senior seasons. However, against Eisenhower, in the final home game of Moses Lake’s season Manly found herself in a familiar place — between the posts.
Thinking she was just out there to bask in the Lions Field lighting and feel the turf under her boots for a minute, Manly was surprised to see an early attack by the Cadets bearing down on her. Instinct kicked in and Manly scooped up the incoming ball for her first save in a long time.
“It was a lot more exciting than I expected it to be,” she said. “With Megan (Mullin) it was planned. This time it wasn’t so planned and I legit had a save and that was pretty exciting, but it means everything to me.
“My team played so well this whole season and I owe it to everyone for how far we’ve gotten and to be able to have a save, to be able to contribute to my team on the field, it’s something that I’ve wished to do for two years and I was able to do it tonight.”
Abby Rathbun finished off her hat trick mid-way through the second half and Moses Lake shut out Eisenhower 6-0.
Head coach Ric Char put out a senior-heavy lineup that was able to control possession and score in the 14th minute. Senior defender Cora Bruneel gathered a rebound off a corner kick for the Chiefs’ first goal.
“It was a super special feeling,” Char said. “We’ve got 12 or 13 four-year seniors this year and it was just great to have them pumped up and excited for them to get the opportunity to play.”
Emily Mendoza knocked in a low shot in the 30th minute before Rathbun, a four-year varsity starter, took the game over.
Rathbun scored the first of her three straight goals just before halftime.
In the 44th minute, Rathbun was the beneficiary of a cross from Christina Mullan. The hat trick was completed in the 59th minute when Morgan Skone had a shot deflected by Eisenhower goalie Jaqueline Renteria. The rebound fell right at the feet of Rathbun who calmly shot into the unguarded net.
“She’s the leader of our program and she got us going with her play and her intensity and motivating her teammates,” Char said. “Deservedly so that she got those three goals because she was definitely pumped up to play in the game tonight.”
First half — 1, ML, Bruneel, 14:00. 2, ML, Mendoza, 35:00. 3, ML, Rathbun, 40:00.
Second half — 4, ML, Rathbun (Mullan), 44:00. 5, ML, Rathbun, 59:00. 6, ML, Morgan Skone (Mendoza), 77:00.