BASIN SOCCER ROUNDUP: Six squads begin playoffs

COLUMBIA BASIN — Postseason competition on the soccer field began on Tuesday for Basin teams and continues over the next two weeks. Read along for a look at where teams stand heading into the playoffs.

4A

Moses Lake

The Mavericks wrapped up the regular season with a 2-1 win over Wenatchee at home Tuesday, picking up their third Columbia Basin Big 9 win of the season with the win over the Panthers. Moses Lake won four of its final seven games down the stretch of the regular season, with wins coming against Cheney (4-2 on April 8), Eastmont (2-1 on April 16), West Valley (Yakima) (2-1 on April 23) and Tuesday’s win over Wenatchee.

The postseason begins on Tuesday for Moses Lake (6-10-1), who finished in sixth place in the Big 9. The bracket has yet to be set by the WIAA as of Thursday afternoon, though the Mavs will face the league’s No. 3 seed; Davis, Eastmont and Sunnyside all finished with 8-3 records in league games this season.

2A

Ephrata

After finishing the regular season with a 1-0 win over Selah on April 25, the Tigers placed fifth in the Central Washington Athletic Conference this spring. As the No. 5 seed in the CWAC district tournament, Ephrata suffered a 2-0 loss in the opening round on the road against Grandview on Thursday. Now faced with a loser-out matchup, the Tigers (5-11-1) will play the loser of Thursday’s second-round matchup between No. 2 Othello and No. 3 Selah on the road Saturday at noon. 

Othello

Othello concluded the regular season riding a four-game win streak, with the final win coming on the road against Ellensburg in a shootout April 25. A goal by senior Anthony Abundiz gave Othello a 1-0 lead in the match, but the Bulldogs tied the game late to send it to overtime. 

A scoreless overtime was followed by a shootout, with both squads tied at four entering the sixth round. Junior Ruben Mancilla scored the game-winning goal in the shootout, closing the regular season with a win for the Huskies.

The Huskies (11-5-1) were the runner-up in the CWAC to East Valley (Yakima) for the second straight season, finishing with a 9-3 record in league contests this spring. Othello earned the No. 2 seed in the CWAC district tournament, hosting Selah in the second round Thursday evening. Results from the match were not available in time for press deadline, but will be included in Monday’s edition of the Columbia Basin Herald.

1A

Quincy

The Jackrabbits wrapped up the regular season with a home match against Warden on Tuesday, defeating the Cougars 6-1 to improve to 10-5-2 on the year. Quincy finished in second place in the Caribou Trail League and now prepares for an opening-round home match against Manson on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Trojans took third in the Central Washington 2B league, posting a 10-7 overall record that features wins over Okanogan and Cashmere. The winner of the loser-out matchup advances to face the winner of Okanogan and Bridgeport on Wednesday in Wenatchee.

Royal

The Knights ended the regular season with a 2-1 win over Warden on April 25, with both goals being scored by sophomore Anderson Brown. Royal finished in second place in the South Central Athletic Conference (East) with a 10-2 record in league contests this spring, as its only losses were to league champion Wahluke (2-1 on March 26 and 1-0 on April 23). 

As a No. 2 seed in the SCAC district tournament, Royal played host to Wapato in the opening round Thursday night, but scores were not available in time for press deadline. The winner of the match goes on to play the winner of Connell and Highland on Tuesday, while the loser faces the loser of the same matchup Tuesday.

Wahluke

Five Warriors scored in their regular season finale on the road against Kiona-Benton, as junior Luis Corona, senior Diego Olivares, junior Alvaro Rodriguez, freshman Icker Lopez and senior Bian Herrera (twice) all found the net in a 6-0 win April 25. 

Wahluke (15-1) sealed its second straight SCAC (East) title with the April 23 defeat of Royal, and faced La Salle in the opening round of the SCAC district tournament on Thursday. The winner of Thursday’s match plays the winner of Mabton and Toppenish on Tuesday, while the loser plays the loser of the Mabton/Toppenish matchup Tuesday.

Warden

Warden’s season wrapped back-to-back games against teams from the Caribou Trail League, first taking down Omak 8-1 at home April 26 before falling 6-1 to Quincy on Tuesday. The Cougars end the spring with a 7-9 record.

    The Quincy boys soccer team begins the postseason at home against Manson on Saturday.
  

    Wahluke senior Brian Herrera scored two goals in the Warriors’ regular season-finale win over Kiona-Benton on April 25.