Cougars make a comeback in OT

WARDEN — The Warden Cougars soccer team (3-7) gained a 2-1 home victory over Columbia after pushing the game into overtime. 

“I think we really played as a team, and we just talked and it all came through in the end,” said Cougars player Allie Jensen.  

The Cougars were slow to get started in the first half as Columbia kept up the pressure on the net and scored in the middle of the half. The Cougars prevented another score on the half, but were unable to get a score themselves and went into halftime 0-1. 

Coming out of the half, the Cougars had more energy and flipped the script, scoring a goal and keeping the pressure on their opponents' net for most of the second half. Both teams stayed locked at 1-1 until the end of regulation and played in two scoreless five-minute halves of overtime. 

The game came down to a penalty kick shootout between the two teams, where Columbia came out strong, blocking Warden's first kick and making one of their own, but the Cougars rallied with key blocks from their goalkeeper, Daisy Rojas Lizarraga, and earned a 2-1 victory over Columbia. 

“We worked together and at the end we pushed hard because we wanted to win,” said Cougars player Alyna Kerr.  

Kerr and Jensen said that this game was a big win for the team as it taught them to never give up as they came back from being down going into the second half and caught back up for the overtime win. 

“It was definitely a tough game today,” said Cougars Head Coach Barbara Landeros. “I think we played our best and it paid off at the end.” 

One thing the Cougars have been working on this season has been their communication on the field, and this was on full display during the game. She said that part of the communication aspect of the game is to cheer each other on to keep up team spirit. 

Landeros said this win showed how much growth the team has made this season, as the players pulled themselves back up after being down in the first half, and taught them to never give up. 

“Even if we start losing, not giving up hope and pushing through,” she said. “Whether we lose or win, if we’re working hard, then that’s what matters.” 

Working on improving the communication aspect of the game and strengthening the team through conditioning is something that Landeros said the Cougars will be working on moving forward.  

She said that the Cougars are feeling a little sad as the regular season begins to come to a close and they will soon have to say goodbye to their senior players.  

“We have some seniors to appreciate and say goodbye to, so we’re giving our best to play the last games the hardest we can to give our families here that come see us the best games and as a team give the best we have,” said Landeros.  

The Cougars’ next game will be on the road Thursday, where they will face Cle Elum at 6 p.m. 

BOX SCORE: 

WRDN: 0-1-1: 2
CLBA: 1-0-0: 1 

Warden Roster: 

Player, Jersey 

Madilyn Borrego, 2
Allie Jensen, 3
Jessica Quintero, 4
Adaly Munoz, 6
Joanna Landeros, 7
Shi Rivera-Dominguez, 8
Alyna Kerr, 9
Elisha Dominguez Vazquez, 11
Amaia Borrego, 12
Ximena Arriaga, 13
Flor Orozco, 14
Addie Runnels, 16
Tina Rodriguez, 18
Monze Zaragoza, 19
Amee Landeros, 21
Sandra Dominguez, Vazquez, 22
Daisy Rojas Lizarraga, 23
Espie Canales, 24 

    Cougars player Elisha Dominguez Vazquez completes a penalty kick during the overtime shootout. The team rallied together during the PK shootout after Columbia initially took the advantage.
  

    Cougars senior Ximena Arriaga maneuvers around a Columbia player during the second half of the game. Head coach Barbara Landeros said moving forward it is important to have the team work as hard as possible for the seniors’ final games.
  

    Allie Jensen from the Cougars races down the field to catch up with a Columbia player who gained possession of the ball. Jensen said everyone is going to keep pushing themselves and will try to build up the hype for the second half of the season.
  

    Amaia Borrego, a senior with the Cougars, completes a kick down field to one of her teammates.