Krogh scores twice in return from injury; Moses Lake routs Post Falls

MOSES LAKE — It had been a long time since junior Madi Krogh suited up for Moses Lake.

The forward, who scored a hat trick in her first varsity game as a freshman, spent the majority of her sophomore year sidelined due to injury.

Saturday in a non-league game with Post Falls, Krogh made her presence felt instantly with a pair of goals within the first five minutes.

“It feels good, just all the effort I had to put in,” she said. “And my team missed me and I’m glad to help them again.”

Krogh’s two goals put the Chiefs up for good in a season-opening win over Post Falls 5-2.

Krogh’s, as well as the team speed of Moses Lake, overwhelmed the Trojans early. Krogh broke away from the defense to score early and nearly completed a hat trick with a run to start the second half.

That speed, Moses Lake head coach Ric Char explained, was by design.

“Our conditioning is up,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot from last season so we’re conditioning harder this year and more and then, like I said, that gets the pressure off of our defense who is just trying to find our identity, figure out or formation and shape.

“If we can keep the ball up on the offensive third as much as possible with Madi and Morgan (Skone) and Denali’s (Knowles) feet we’re better.”

Moses Lake’s attack wasn’t just Krogh racing up and down the field on through balls.

Each goal was assisted and three different players found the back of the net.

“It felt good to have other people help me because sometimes it’s hard to do it all by myself, but I know that they’ve got my back,” Krogh said.

Christina Mullan booted a looping shot that indefensibly curved into the top left corner of the net.

After an own goal by Post Falls, Moses Lake entered halftime with a 4-1 lead.

The Trojans stepped up defensively and quelled most of the Chiefs’ second-half attack.

However, in the 68th minute, Skone found herself behind Post Falls’ back line and calmly gathered a pass and slid the ball low into the twine.

It was a nice warm-up for a non-league slate that increases in difficulty Wednesday against Lewis and Clark.

“We’ve been working hard and our experience I think we’re going to do good this year with everyone,” Krogh said.

Scoring

First half — 1, ML, Krogh, 3:00. 2, ML, Krogh, 5:00. 3, PF, Maddi Lasher, 16:00. 4, ML, Mullan, 22:00. 5, ML, own, 33:00.

Second half — 6, PF. Lasher, 49:00. 7, ML, Skone, 68:00.

Warden 9, Okanogan 2

OKANOGAN — Warden took a lead three minutes into the game and cruised to a 9-2 win against Okanogan.

Aubree Skone scored four goals and Aaliyah Escamilla scored twice.

“Okanogan is always a tough opponent and they made the girls run a ton,” head coach Hannah Mohs said. “We worked on a new formation and really stressed forward movement. This game was a testament to how hard the girls have been workingon talking and moving for each other.”

Warden led 4-1 at halftime. Skone scored three of her four goals over the final 40 minutes.

Scoring

First half — 1, W, Escamilla (Skone), 3:00. 2, W, Grace Richins (Skone), 12:00. 3, O, Rachelle Hamilton, 19:00. 4, W, Skone, 22:00. 5, W, Escamilla (Skone), 36:00.

Second half — 6, W, Skone (Escamilla), 43:00. 7, W, Ashlyn Yamane (Melanie Cezares), 55:00. 8, W, Bailey Whitney, 58:00. 9, O, Hamilton, 65:00. 10, W, Skone, 69:00. 11, W, Skone (Whitney), 76:00.