Jacks overcome Tigers in OT

QUINCY – On Tuesday, the Jacks (6-3-1) overcame the Ephrata Tigers (3-3-2) in penalty kicks to secure a 1-0 victory. Jacks goalkeeper Aylen Garcia came up big for her team in the penalty kicks at the end of the game.  

“The wind was hard to play with, but I think we made it through. The first half was very shaky. We could have done better, but the second half was so intense. I feel we definitely upped our game, and it was a great game,” Garcia said.  

From the beginning, it was a back-and-forth game. Each team battled for control of the ball and had several moments where they had the opportunity to score, but the opposing defense created the stops.  

The Jacks had several moments in the second half when a player broke free and had an opportunity to take a shot at the goal. Arlene Bolanos and Brielle Baughman were imposing forces in the Jacks' attack. They found themselves in several situations with an opportunity to score, but they could not find a way to finish, Head Coach Jesse Villalobos said.  

“We were pretty confident going into the second half that we were creating the better chances, and we just knew if we kept playing our game, we'd get really good looks, and we did get good looks. Unfortunately, we couldn't finish them,” he said.  

At the end of regulation, the score was 0-0 and the Jacks and Tigers competed in an overtime period of two, five-minute halves. As the wind picked up and misty rain rolled in, the two teams shifted to a more physical game.  

The Tigers had multiple moments where they nearly scored off corner kicks, but Garcia and the Jacks were able to gain control of the ball and kick it away to the other side of the field.  

“I was obviously very scared, but I trusted my team. I trusted my defense. I knew we could do it,” Garcia said. 

After going scoreless in two shortened halves in overtime, both teams would head into penalty kicks, where each team would have chances to score. With the Jacks going first, they had the advantage and scored immediately. The Tigers missed their first shot after Garcia made the block.  

The Tigers made their next three before missing a second shot, while the Jacks made four of their five penalty kicks and secured the 1-0 win. With a win like that for the Jacks, Garcia feels confident that experience will benefit them later this season.  

“It’s very great practice with the intensity, and all the pressure. It will definitely help for districts with the same pressure and intensity,” she said.  

As great as the win feels, Villalobos still sees opportunities for the Jacks to improve from their game against the Tigers.  

“It was the execution part where we got a little frustrated, because we walked through this yesterday, we knew what worked well for us. And obviously putting balls in the box, playing wide, and we created those chances, and that's what happened, the layoff, the early ball in, and stuff like that, but we just couldn't capitalize,” Villalobos said.  

In their second year in the Central Washington Athletic Conference, Villalobos said his team has seemingly hit a small rough patch in their season. However, they know the competition in the league is going to be tough and they are aiming to gradually improve each game. 

Garcia is confident in her team and the potential they have to make a postseason run this year.  

“I feel like we have a really great chance. We have a really, very great team, very great coaches and help, (we) really can make it far this year,” she said.  

The Tigers host Bridgeport on Oct. 4 at noon. 

The Jacks host Toppenish at home Oct. 2 at 6 p.m.  

BOX SCORE:  

QNCY: 0-0-0-4: 1
EPHT: 0-0-0-3: 0  

    Chloe Compton (2) chases down Lila Rainey (9) along the boundary during their game on Tuesday. Head Coach Jesse Villalobos said his team did a good job of creating scoring opportunities against the Tigers.
  

    Paige Murray (11) and Emiko Kondo (8) try to outrun each other to get control of the ball in their game on Tuesday. Both teams had to manage playing through strong wind and light rain toward the end of the game.
  

    Arlene Bolanos (7) makes a run for the ball with Delanie Killinger (12) on her heels. Head Coach Jesse Villalobos said the Jacks will look to improve their execution going forward after Tuesday’s game.
  

    The Tigers Delanie Killinger (12) waits for the ball to be passed to her with Emily Romero applying defensive pressure.
  

    The Jacks celebrate their win over the Ephrata Tigers on Tuesday. Aylen Garcia said she feels confident in her team to make a run in the postseason.