Mavericks defeat Eastmont, finish third in league

MOSES LAKE — The Mavericks snapped a three-game losing streak in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Eastmont, scoring two goals in the second half to seal a win in the regular season finale. 

Moses Lake entered the match with several starting players out with injuries. 

“The girls stepped into different positions and held their own in there,” head coach Alysha Overland said. “They really all came up big today.” 

The match remained scoreless for the first 30-plus minutes, while neither side could convert on attempts near the opposing side’s net; that changed in the 32nd minute when senior Meadow Saenz scored on a header off a corner kick taken by sophomore Kamery Char to put the Mavs up 1-0. 

“I couldn’t really see it because I was on the ground for a moment, but I saw it hit the net – I was so excited and so pumped,” Saenz said. 

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Char scored a goal of her own off a pass from sophomore Lindsey Davis. 

“That was huge just to keep the momentum,” Overland said. “That goal in the first half is always a good momentum builder going into halftime. During halftime we say, ‘Hey, it’s a new half, it’s a 0-0 game.’ When we got that second one, we felt that rush of momentum and energy stay with us.” 

Char scored the goal while on the run, hitting the ball in stride and burying it into the back of the net. 

“That’s something that I’m really excited about – that I was able to keep it down,” Char said. “Lindsey’s super fast, I knew she was going to be able to get across. I wanted to make sure that I was there.” 

Moses Lake scored its third goal of the match during second-half stoppage time when senior Sam Escamilla scored on a follow-up attempt in front of the Wildcat net.  

Overland said the Mavericks were seeking an extra goal in case if came down to a tiebreaker with West Valley (Yakima) for who would play Wenatchee in the Columbia Basin Big 9 district title game Thursday. 

“We were fighting to get full points this game because that gave us a better chance to end up in second – unfortunately, West Valley got the win over there, so we end up in third in the league,” Overland said.  

Moses Lake’s defense held the Wildcats to just three shots on goal in the match. 

“Our defense really locked in, marking up between our center backs and marking up their forward and our midfield,” Saenz said. “Doing really well with their passes in the middle and playing tight defense really helped us.” 

With Saturday’s match being the final home game of the regular season, Moses Lake celebrated seniors Beth Ribellia, Amy Gonzalez, Maite Betes, Sadona James, Escamilla and Saenz. 

“This class is a very difficult one to see go,” Overland said. “A lot of them were (freshmen) my first year coaching in the program, so (I’ve been) watching them develop and grow throughout my time here. They’re great, their attitudes and energy they bring – it's going to be sad to see them go.” 

Moses Lake, the No. 3 seed in the district tournament, will take on No. 6 Eisenhower on Tuesday at Lions Field. The winner of the loser-out match will play the winner of No. 4 Eastmont and No. 5 Davis on Thursday at 6 p.m. Wenatchee and West Valley play for the district title Tuesday. 

“I know the girls are going to be running on a high after this, we got the win for the seniors, so we’ll be back to business tomorrow and ready to work for it,” Overland said. 

Box score 

ESTM: 0-0 0
MSLK: 1-2 3 

    Moses Lake sophomore Kamery Char (16) put the Mavericks up 2-0 in the 55th minute of Saturday’s match with a goal off a pass from sophomore Lindsey Davis. Char assisted on Moses Lake’s first goal of the match.
  

    Moses Lake senior Sam Escamilla, right, attempts a shot late in the second half against Eastmont on Saturday. Escamilla scored on a follow-up attempt soon after.
  

    Moses Lake senior Beth Ribellia, right, searches for an open teammate to pass the ball to during the first half against Eastmont on Saturday.