Tigers defeat Mavericks in overtime on the pitch

CORRECTION: Name correction for Aiyana Valle. The correction is reflected in the story below.

MOSES LAKE – On Thursday, the Ephrata Tigers stormed Lions Field and brought home an overtime victory against the Mavericks. After a scoreless game in regulation, the Tigers’ fate would be decided by goalkeeper Aiyana Valle. The Tigers secured the victory after holding their own in penalty kicks 4-2.   

“I'm just like, ‘OK, let's stay calm, and let's just save these goals,’” Valle said.   

The Mavericks and Tigers would trade control of the ball throughout the game. Players each brought their own level of physicality to impose upon their opponents.   

“They played well. It was a physical game, and we can be physical as well. That's what we told them in halftime, is you got to go out, and you got to be physical,” Tigers Head Coach Gary Klepec said.   

Both teams continued to go back and forth throughout the second half. Each team at times had opportunities to take a shot at the goal but the opposing defense would be prepared to make a stop. Klepec said his team excelled at moving the ball and did their best to take advantage whenever they would go on the offensive.   

At the end of regulation, the score was 0-0. After some deliberation, it was decided that each team would forgo a shortened half. Instead, they would shoot penalty kicks to decide a winner. They would trade goals back and forth until the Mavericks missed their third shot.  

After the Tigers added to their score, the Mavericks had another opportunity to get back into the game. However, Valle was a wall, as Klepec had called her, and blocked the shot. The Tigers won the shootout 4-2.   

“She's been playing for a long time, ever since she was young, and she's had a lot of extensive training; she's our wall,” Klepec said,   

Valle recently returned to the field from an injury. Klepec said her presence has been noticed since her return. For Valle, she was honored to have an opportunity to be a difference maker for her team.   

“It makes me proud of myself that I can do something different for this team, and that my teammates believe in me after I just got injured,” she said.   

Moving forward, the Tigers will aim to improve their offensive attack, Klepec said.   

“Probably more than anything, we want to move up as a unit and be able to attack more offensively,” he said. “Our defense played really strong. I felt really good about some of the defensive things that we've been trying to change, and they did a really good job on that.  

Like they did against Ellensburg, Klepec implemented a double stopper strategy on defense to help shut down key players on the Mavericks' offense. Valle sees the late-season benefits of playing a challenging non-league opponent earlier in the season.   

“Talking to my defense would definitely help them throughout the season, because if I didn't talk to my defense, it would be chaos back there. Throughout the season, just progressing and talking to my team before games start, and having our minds calm,” she said.   

Improvements aside, Valle said she believes in her team's potential to be successful as the season continues.   

“I think we have lots of potential to make state, I believe in our team, our freshmen are really talented, and this team is just wonderful, I love them,” she said.   

The Mavericks will hit the road Sept. 30 to play Eisenhower at 7 p.m.  

After hosting the Othello Huskies on Saturday, Sept. 27, the Tigers will travel to Quincy on Tuesday to play the Jacks at 6 p.m.   

BOX SCORE:  

MLHS: 0-0-2
EPHT: 0-0-4 

    The Tigers' Brooklynn Sieverkropp (10) maintains control of the ball while Cayla Throneberry (15) applies the defensive pressure. Tigers Head Coach Gary Klepec said his players did a good job of playing physically with the Mavericks.
  

    Jill Linehan (5) and Kamery Char (16) battle it out for ball control when the Tigers and Mavericks faced off on Thursday.
  

    Tigers goalkeeper Aiyana Valle saves a shot attempt against the Mavericks on Thursday. Valle also blocked a shot in overtime when the two teams traded penalty kicks.
  

    Kamery Char (16) and Delanie Killinger (12) fight for ball control as Killinger tries to advance the Tigers offense.
  

    Miciah Higley (3) looks for passing opportunities as the Tigers’ Jill Linehan tries to be a defensive wall in her way.