Othello soccer falls 1-0 in extra time in GSL Regionals
Othello forward Jonathan Alfaro takes a glove to the face inadvertently after going up for a header on a corner kick, resulting in a penalty for the Huskies on Saturday afternoon against North Central High School.
Casey McCarthy/Columbia Basin Herald
Othello's Alonzo Cruz fires a header toward the North Central High School goal off of a corner kick in extra time on Saturday afternoon in Othello.
Othello High School's Jonathan Alfaro fights for the ball near the North Central goal in the first half on Saturday afternoon in Othello.
Othello's Anthony Abundiz takes a shot for the Huskies in the second half of the match against North Central High School on Saturday afternoon in Othello.
Luis Cruz runs up to take the penalty kick for Othello High School on Saturday afternoon against North Central High School in the GSL Regional Championship.
Othello High School's Zahid Perez heads the ball back toward the goal after a deflection on a corner kick in the second half on Saturday in Othello.
OTHELLO — Othello High School boys soccer hosted North Central High School on Saturday afternoon for the Greater Spokane League Regional Championship, falling 1-0 in extra time.
Both sides traded blows early in the first half, with both North Central and Othello just missing on attempts on goal. The visitors had multiple free kicks near the box but were unable to capitalize. Othello missed off the bar on an attempt shortly before the end of the half.
The Huskies got a break in the second half with a penalty kick awarded after an inadvertent blow from the North Central goalkeeper. Luis Cruz stepped up for the penalty kick with the score tied 0-0, but was blocked in the bottom corner of the goal.
With no winner at the end of regulation, the game headed to extra time. Othello found themselves awarded a corner kick early and brought up the bulk of the team for an attack. North Central countered on a breakaway with just the Othello goalkeeper to beat, netting the winning goal.
The Huskies’ loss to North Central was the second in a week. Despite the loss on Saturday, the Huskies finished the spring season as regular season champions in the GSL, with a final record of 8-2.
Othello surrendered just four goals all season, outscoring opponents 35-4. Huskies head coach Bernie Garza said he felt his team got outplayed last Tuesday in their regular season finale, but were the better team on Saturday.
“We should have scored the PK; we just missed it. It’s just one of those things that it’s luck and we missed it,” Garza said. “If we scored that we win the game, but they stepped up and blocked it and got us on the counter when they needed to.”
Garza said the speed of North Central was tough to contain. He said he feels confident in his team’s performance in a new league this season, only two losses, both in extra time and against a team that typically plays in the 3A classification.
Returning to the Central Washington Athletic Conference next season, Garza said he expects the Huskies to be “top dogs.”
“I’ve got basically my whole team back. We’re gonna miss some of the seniors,” Garza said, adding he holds his head high knowing the Huskies claimed the regular season title in their first and only season in the GSL.
Casey McCarthy can be reached via email at cmccarthy@columbiabasinherald.com.
