Royal opens league play with dominating win over Warden
Bob Kirkpatrick/The Sun Tribune - Michael Rojas threads the needle between two Cougar defenders in the match with Warden March 22.
ROYAL CITY — The Knights looked in mid-season form to start league play Saturday as they dominated time of possession, made sharp crisp passes, and seeming scored at will in a 4-0 shout win over the Cougars on the pitch at Davis Nielsen Stadium March 22.
“It was one way traffic, coach Jens Jensen said. “But Warden did a good job putting men behind the ball, and the Warden goalkeeper made a couple nice saves.”
Kind words for the Cougars, who had trouble keeping pace with Royal all match long.
Uriel Garcia got the first goal for Royal 14 minutes into the contest. Juan Ojeda followed it up with a goal four minutes later. Michael Rojas made it 3-0 at the 37:10 mark, and Warden had little to no chance of getting back in it.
“Uriel’s goal came off a loose ball in the box — he took it out of the air and beat the keeper with a volley. Juan scored from a Michael Rojas and Daniel Bonilla assist of a short corner kick the found its way across the face of goal. Juan peeled off his man and one timed it onto the goal,” Jensen said. “Michael scored directly from a free kick — a curling shot/cross to the far post that bounced in the perfect location and tucked into the side netting.”
All nice goals Jensen said. But the sweetest score of the night, he said, “was the pick of the bunch.”
“Miguel Torres scored in the second half by running with the ball at the back line, showing a right footed shot. He crossed over to his left and hammered one from 25 yards that beat the keeper and dipped under the crossbar.”
Royal 4
Cashmere 0
Royal hit the road to Bulldogs country Saturday for a nonleague match with Cashmere. Miguel Torres (Juan Ojeda assist) put the Knight up to with the lone goal of the first half when he out jumped the goalkeeper on a bouncing ball and looped him with a header.
Back-to-back second half goals from Michael Rojas and a late score from Antonio Barragan (Eliseo Romero) pushed the score to 4-0 and sealed the Bulldogs fate.
“Michael scored two beauties. The first one was unassisted and the second was from an Alonso Hernandez assist. Antonio late goal looked like the chance was gone, but he hustled and got a toe to an Eliseo Romero assist and the ball squirted under the Cashmere goalkeeper,” Jensen said. “I would not say the score line is reflective of Cashmere — they are pretty tough — physical all over the pitch and did well to mark us up and plug the passing lanes. But in the second half we were able to wear them down.”
The wins moved Royal to 1-0 in league play and 3-2 overall. The Knights matched up with archrival Wahluke Tuesday. The result of the fuss was not available by time of press.