BASIN SOCCER ROUNDUP: Three teams clinch state bids

COLUMBIA BASIN — Three Basin squads have qualified for their respective boys state soccer tournaments, as district tournaments wind down to a close.

4A

Moses Lake

Moses Lake’s season came to a close with Tuesday’s loss to Eastmont in the first round of the Columbia Basin Big 9 district tournament, losing 9-1 to the No. 3 seed Wildcats on the road. 

The Mavericks finish the 2024 season with a 6-11-1 overall mark, including a 3-9 record in Big 9 matchups; Moses Lake defeated Eastmont 2-1 on April 16, West Valley (Yakima) 2-1 on April 23 and Wenatchee 2-1 on April 30 to lock up a playoff spot.

2A

Ephrata

After falling 2-0 to Grandview in the opening round of the Central Washington Athletic Conference district tournament, the Tigers dropped to a loser-out match on the road against Selah on Saturday. 

The Vikings took a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute on a penalty kick, holding the lead until halftime. A second Selah goal came in the 45th minute, which Ephrata answered with a goal from sophomore Junior Chavez Mendoza in the 50th minute. However, Selah scored additional goals in the 59th and 68th minutes to defeat Ephrata 4-1, ending the Tigers’ season.

Ephrata concludes the spring with a 5-12-1 overall mark and 5-8 in the CWAC.

Othello

The Huskies earned a bye in the CWAC district tournament after finishing second in the regular season league standings, setting up a second-round match at home against Selah on May 2. Othello scored first on a goal from junior Ruben Mancilla, but let the lead slip away midway through the second half; down 2-1, Huskie senior Felipe Haro scored the equalizer to send the match to overtime. 

A goal from junior Asaph Alfaro gave Othello a 3-2 win over the Vikings, advancing the Huskies to the CWAC district final for the third consecutive season. Facing off against East Valley (Yakima) on Tuesday, Othello fell 2-0 to the Red Devils after East Valley scored two goals in the second half.

Othello hosts Grandview in a winner-to-state, loser-out match Saturday at noon.

1A

Quincy

The Jackrabbits began the 1A District 6 Boys Soccer Tournament on Saturday, hosting Manson in a loser-out game. Quincy scored the game’s lone goal in the 11th minute, as junior Kasey Toevs gave his Jacks a 1-0 lead. After a Manson penalty kick missed over the crossbar late in the second half, the Jackrabbits advanced to the district semifinals Wednesday.

Playing against Bridgeport in Wenatchee on Wednesday, Quincy defeated the Mustangs 1-0 to once again qualify for the 1A Boys State Soccer Tournament, and reach the district final. Quincy will take on Cascade (Leavenworth) for the third time this season, with the match kickoff at 4 p.m. in Wenatchee. Cascade won both prior matches against the Jacks; a 3-1 win March 28 and a 3-0 win April 23.

Royal

The Knights began the South Central Athletic Conference district tournament May 2 with a home match against Wapato, defeating the Wolves 2-0 with both goals coming from senior Santiago Gonzalez. With the win, Royal advanced to the SCAC semifinal round, hitting the road to take on Highland, the SCAC (West) league champions.

After defeating Highland 1-0 on Tuesday, Royal punched its ticket to the 1A Boys State Soccer Tournament and will face off against Wahluke in Saturday’s SCAC final at Toppenish High School. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

Wahluke

Wahluke’s SCAC district tournament opened with a home match against La Salle, with the Warriors posting a convincing 8-0 win over the Lightning. Leading the way was freshman Icker Lopez’s hat trick, while junior Luis Corona, senior Brian Herrera, junior Alex Acevedo and senior Abraham Prudente all added goals of their own in the win.

Against Toppenish in Tuesday’s district semifinal, the Warriors saw their two-goal first-half lead – scored by junior Alvaro Rodriguez and senior Diego Olivares – vanish after the Wildcats scored two of their own in the second half, sending the match to overtime.

After a scoreless overtime, Wahluke won the match in a 4-2 penalty shootout. With the win, Wahluke advances to both the SCAC district final and the 1A Boys State Soccer Tournament. Wahluke faces Royal at 6 p.m. at Toppenish High School on Saturday.

    Quincy earned a spot in the 1A State Boys Soccer Tournament with Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Bridgeport. The Jacks face Cascade (Leavenworth) in the 1A District 6 Boys Soccer District Tournament on Saturday in Wenatchee.
  

    Wahluke took down Toppenish 3-2 in a penalty shootout to advance to the SCAC district championship game Saturday against Royal.