Huskies hold off Tigers comeback bid

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies (3-1) defeated the Ephrata Tigers (3-3) on Tuesday 3-2.  With intense winds and a few injuries, Othello Head Coach Bernie Garza said this game provided a good experience for his players. 

“It’s good to experience that high pressure, we're still a young team,” Garza said. 

With the winds to their backs, the Huskies put up two goals in the first half, but the Tigers got on the scoreboard as well before halftime. In the second half, both teams fell into a defensive chess match as they continued to battle the wind. After about 20 minutes, the Huskies scored their third goal of the game. The Tigers scored from deep to cut the deficit to 3-2 minutes later. Despite their best efforts in the final moments, the Tigers fell short of a comeback.  

“We always show up to win, but I think obviously the heart and the passion and the commitment to keep fighting till the end is always something that we have... it's our Tiger way, it's just the way we do it,” Ephrata Head Coach Ivan Garay said.  

In the first half, the Huskies built their lead behind goals by Orlando Farias and Carlos Huaracha. Earning assists in those goals were Andrew Sorenson, assisting Orlando, while he assisted Huaracha.  

The Tigers’ Rafael Jimenez scored in the first half to help them keep the game within reach, only trailing 2-1 at halftime.  

Both teams traded possessions to open the second half, each taking multiple shots on goal. About halfway through the period, Luis Farias found an opening for a close-range score to increase Othello’s lead to 3-1.  

The Huskies couldn’t celebrate too long as the Tigers responded with aggression on offense. Fernando Ramirez took a hail Mary shot from about 30 yards out to drill the ball into the top left corner of the net; Ephrata cut the score to 3-2.  

“That's just a beauty,” Garay said. “That's just one of those ESPN top 10 shots. I wish we could submit it, because that was that kind of a shot.”  

From there, both teams continued to trade possessions of the ball. Ephrata pushed the pace in their attack as they looked to tie the game before time ran out. In the final moments, the Tigers nearly scored their third off a corner kick, but the Othello defense recorded several blocks to fend off Ephrata as time ran out and they sealed the win.  

Despite falling short, Garay was proud of his players for fighting to the very end.  

“To bounce back from going down 2-0, they could have given up right there, but they didn't,” he said. “They kept fighting and fighting till the last possession. They were trying to get that win and battle for it and that's what we take (from this game) ... that we have to be that team that just fights till the end.”  

For the Huskies, a win is a win, Garza said. However, he still saw opportunities for improvement as the season gets underway.  

“We got to work on possessing the ball, to keep it away from them,” Garza said. “We've been struggling the past couple games (with) long range shots like the one that they scored. We're going to have to fix that. In part of (that) the midfielders were gone, so the midfielders were there providing that pressure, and they were like backup, and so (other players) are not sure what to do.”  

The Tigers next game is at home Thursday against the Quincy Jacks at 6 p.m. The Huskies return to the pitch Saturday when they host Prosser at noon.  

BOX SCORE:  

EPHT: 1-1: 2  
OTHL: 2-1: 3  

    The Tigers’ Fernando Ramirez (11) is swarmed by teammates after drilling a long range goal to keep Ephrata in the game.
  

    Luis Farias (14) muscles past an Ephrata defender to regain possession of the ball during their game Tuesday.
  

    Avian Soto (10) tries to kick the ball over the Huskies defensive wall during their game Tuesday.