Wahluke pulls ahead of Warden in SCAC matchup

WARDEN — The Wahluke Warriors (6-2) earned a 7-0 victory on the road as they faced the Warden Cougars (2-6). The Warriors improve into the top four teams of the South-Central Athletic Conference while the Cougars are focused on rallying themselves for a stronger second half of the season. 

“We came with a positive mentality that we’re going to try to connect, that we’re going to try to create different options,” said Warriors Head Coach Cele Lopez. “Sometimes we’re predictable on (the) attack and I think we did really good. We tried three different formations during the game and it worked out pretty good for us.” 

The Warriors had a hot start Thursday as they put two kicks into the back of the net within the first three minutes of the game. The Warriors placed three more kicks into the goal by the end of the first half. 

Warden had a few opportunities to make plays on goal in the first half, but a strong Wahluke defense halted the Cougars’ progress. By the end of the half the Warriors had a 5-0 lead. 

The Cougars returned from halftime with new energy and held possession for the ball much longer, putting more pressure on the goal. Warden’s defense picked up the pace as well as they kept the pressure off their goalie for the majority of the half and pushed the ball into the center of the field. 

Wahluke still held Warden scoreless in the second half as they protected their goal and made deep pushes into Cougar territory. The Warriors added two more goals in the second half with a score from junior Baldrick Gomez around the 25-minute mark and another from junior Icker Lopez to end the game 7-0 for a Wahluke victory. 

Gomez led the Warriors in scoring with four goals total in Thursday’s game, followed by Lopez, who scored two. The Warriors coach highlighted the whole team’s defensive efforts as they held their opponent scoreless, showed great energy and created opportunities through their pressure. 

“It was a really good team effort,” said Coach Lopez. “It was one of those games where you can tell that everybody’s engaged, everybody was hungry, and everybody wants to try hard.” 

He said this game showed the effects of Wahluke’s change in attitude, intensity and energy at practice as the players showed coordination with one another on the field which translated into a team win. 

“When we have that energy in practice, it’s really easy to put on in the game,” said Coach Lopez. “It’s like a reflection, and I think that’s what’s changing in our season.” 

For Warden, Head Coach Marco Landeros said this loss taught the Cougars a lot more about themselves and where they need to improve as they head into the next half of the season. 

“I believe the main problem we have is that we don’t talk, we don’t communicate a lot,” said Landeros. “That’s where I see my big problem, because I could teach them whatever on soccer, but if they don’t talk to each other or they don’t want to use their teammates... It’s really hard for us, but we’re going to keep working hard and try to do better.” 

Another thing the Cougars coach said he noticed in the game was the team responded with more energy in the second half than what they came into the game with in the first half. Moving forward, he wants the players to recognize that energy they show in the second half of games and push to have that level of pressure at the start of the game. 

Following Saturday’s matchup against Connell, the Cougars head into a week’s break between games, which Landeros said will help them get set up for the rest of the season. During this time he plans to make some changes at practice and work with the players in different ways as he works to bind the team together. 

“Some way or another, I’m going to try to teach them something different to understand each other, because obviously we’re not doing that right now, but we will,” he said. “It’s working, but I’ve got to find out what’s hurting (us) in the first half.” 

Warden went on the road Saturday to face Connell; the results of that game were unavailable at the time of publication. The Cougars remain on the road for their next matchup to face La Salle April 14 at 6 p.m. The Warriors return home to face Cascade Thursday at 4 p.m. 

BOX SCORE 

WAHL: 5-2: 7
WARD: 0-0: 0 

    Warden senior Jose Perez (10) goes up against Wahluke’s Franco Perez (20) and Ethan Moreno (10) as he works to maintain control of the ball.
  

    Warriors sophomore goalkeeper Jonathan Gatica Ramirez slides to grab the ball and stop the offensive push from the Cougars Thursday evening.

    Cougars sophomore Alfredo Mora runs to make a pass during Thursday’s game against Wahluke.
  

    Franco Perez, a junior from Wahluke, maneuvers the ball as he makes his way toward Warden territory.
  

    Hunter Golladay, a senior from Warden, chases after the ball as he makes a run toward Wahluke’s side of the field.