Mavs fall 2-1 to Wenatchee on the pitch

MOSES LAKE – While the Mavericks had plenty of scoring opportunities late in the match, Moses Lake couldn’t overcome the one-goal deficit against Wenatchee and fell 2-1 to the Panthers on Tuesday night. 

“We got a lot of opportunities, we just couldn't finish them,” Moses Lake head coach Alysha Overland said. “We won the field game for sure, we just didn’t win the score game.” 

Down 2-1 in the final 10 minutes, the Mavericks kept steady pressure on the Wenatchee net to try and tie the match at two; the Mavericks had two free kicks just outside the penalty area, and even attempted a penalty kick in the 73rd minute, but the shot bounced off the crossbar and the follow-up attempt was saved by the Panther goalkeeper. 

“Ultimately, I think it just came down to positioning our bodies – putting ourselves in the right spot to get a better angle on the ball,” Overland said. “Putting the ball in the net instead of around the net. Just simple fixes that unfortunately we couldn’t capitalize on tonight.” 

Unable to find an equalizer, Moses Lake fell 2-1 to the Panthers. Wenatchee locked up the Columbia Basin Big 9 league title with the win. 

Though the end result didn’t fare in Moses Lake’s favor, the Mavericks came out strong Tuesday night. Wenatchee (12-1), which has averaged nearly three goals per game this season, was shut out of the first half and held to just two shots over the first 40 minutes. 

“We’ve been talking a lot about it in practice, working on some different shifting rotations and keeping them in front of us, being patient and forcing them to make the mistake,” Overland said of Moses Lake’s first-half defensive success. 

The first goal of the match came in the 22nd minute when Maverick senior Meadow Saenz connected on a deep shot that flew over the top of the Wenatchee keeper and buried into the back of the net for a 1-0 Moses Lake lead. 

“It definitely put the momentum on our side,” Overland said. “The girls came with even more energy from that. It set us up for a solid end to the first half, that’s for sure.” 

Moses Lake held the 1-0 advantage until Wenatchee tied the match in the 52nd minute, scoring after two passes set up a one-on-one matchup with the Maverick goalkeeper. Eleven minutes later, the Panthers took a 2-1 lead on a shot to the bottom left corner of the Moses Lake net. 

“(Moses Lake) definitely came out bigger, faster, stronger the first half, so I just told the girls ‘Bring energy, anticipate that speed coming behind them,’” Wenatchee head coach Ashton Kirkpatrick said. “They put a lot of pressure on the ball, so just being aware that that would happen was the goal.” 

Moses Lake fell to 8-4-1 with the loss and 6-4 in the Columbia Basin Big 9. Still vying for a berth into the CBBN district title game, Moses Lake takes on Eisenhower next Tuesday and closes the regular season on Nov. 2 against Eastmont. 

“The girls have been pretty good at using these games as fuel, because we know what the end result should have been,” Overland said. “I think they’ll use it as fuel going into these last two league games.” 

Box score 

WNTC: 0-2 2
MSLK: 1-0 1 

    Moses Lake senior Meadow Saenz (12) brings the ball out of the defending third during the first half against Wenatchee on Tuesday. Saenz scored the first goal of the game, connecting on a deep shot in the 22nd minute.
  

    Moses Lake sophomore Kamery Char (16) searches for an open teammate while bringing the ball up the field against Wenatchee on Tuesday.
  

    Moses Lake sophomore Lindsey Davis (10) keeps her eyes on the Wenatchee defense while dribbling the ball toward the net.