MLHS boys soccer takes split in weekend games
Two Othello High School soccer players, freshman Jose Cabrera (10) and sophomore Felipe Haro (11) work to keep the ball from Moses Lake High School senior Peter Nganga (4) during the matchup on Thursday at Lions Field.
REBECCA PETTINGILL/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Moses Lake High School sophomore Jesus Garcia (18) weaves through Othello High School players, senior Anthony Ontiveros (6) and sophomore Felipe Haro (11), during the matchup on Thursday at Lions Field.
Moses Lake High School sophomore Jesus Garcia (18) stops the ball to assess the field during the matchup against Othello High School on Thursday at Lions Field.
MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake High School boys soccer team took a split this past week with a win over Othello High School and a loss to Lake Stevens High School.
“What caught me off guard (this season) is the amount of joy that the game has brought (to everyone involved) just in the small amount of time that we've been playing for this last month,” said Moses Lake High School boys soccer coach Derrick Gonzales.
On Thursday, Moses Lake took on non-league opponent Othello at Lions Field.
The first half saw several missed goal opportunities by Moses Lake, to the point that they didn’t get a single goal on the board. Othello snatched one, leading 2-1 at the half.
Moses Lake, however, came back in the second half ready to fight back. The Chiefs were able to get two in while holding Othello back. Gonzales said that one of the goals his team made was a deflection of the keeper after Othello’s keeper was able to stop the ball.
Moses Lake took the game 2-1.
The second home game, on Saturday, resulted in Moses Lake falling to Lake Stevens 1-3.
Gonzales said he thinks his team’s biggest strength is how united they are. He said the young athletes hold themselves to high standards and as a result, also hold each other to those standards. He explained that, by being as responsible, dedicated and self-aware as they are, they are able to collectively see the same goal and do what is necessary to reach that goal as a team.
The team’s record after the split is 3-4 overall, though Gonzales said the team is focused on enjoying the season regardless of their record.
“And the other huge thing is we're having a ton of fun, and I think that's a huge strength as well. That we just enjoy being together and playing and just taking whatever comes,” said Gonzales
Moses Lake next takes on Sunnyside High School at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Lions Field.
Gonzales noted that the team’s primary goal is to make it to state this year.
“I remind players every single day when they wake up in the morning, they should be asking themselves what are they going to do each day to get us into the first round of state,” said Gonzales. “That's the goal that we're gunning for right now each day.”
Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.
