Shadow Bumble Opportunities, Fall To Yakima
When the Spokane Shadow learn to frame their artwork, their USISL matches will become works of art.
Michael Rundquist scored his second goal of the match with a little less than 3 minutes left Saturday to give the Yakima Reds a 3-2 victory over Spokane in the Shadow’s home opener before about 2,000 fans at Spokane Falls Community College.
“When you’re in front of the net you have to find the frame,” Shadow mid-fielder Dave Berto said. “There’s an art to scoring and 99 percent of it is mental. The guys are a little apprehensive in front of the net. That will come with maturation.”
Berto, 27, who played at Ferris High and the University of Washington, scored Spokane’s second goal in the 46th minute of the 60-minute match, but it was one of the few times the Shadow capitalized in a competition they dominated. Though statistics aren’t kept for shots on goal and corner kicks, Spokane had a huge advantage in every offensive number except goals.
“For the most part we played well. We put pressure on the goal and played in front of their goal,” Spokane coach Einar Thorarinsson said. “Them saving our shots on the goal line and a lack of shooting accuracy had a little bit to do with it.”
Spokane had the pressure on Reds keeper Kenneth Freisz throughout the first half. Seconds after Spokane keeper John Nagel deflected a shot over the goal, however, Yakima’s Eric Reesman got his head on a corner kick by Jorge Ceja and the ball hit the crossbar and dropped into the goal.
That came with less than 2 minutes to play in the first half. Just 30 seconds later Tim Seeley was fouled inside the 18-yard line and Chris Stiles converted the penalty kick to tie the game.
Twice in the second half Rundquist, who played at Liberty in Issaquah, Bellevue Community College and Central Washington, caught the defense on its heels to beat Nagel from 15 yards. Barta’s goal, on a pass from Stiles, tied the game with 14 minutes left. Antone Guiterrez, Yakima’s keeper in the second half, made a handful of spectacular saves and his defenders cleared the ball off the goal line several times.
“We have to step up in the defense a little bit,” Thorarinsson said. “We let them shoot from short distances. Their whole game is counter attack, hitting the long ball. By scoring on those, they’re able to hold their goal.”
Yakima, which defeated a California team in overtime in Toppenish Friday night, improved to 3-7 while Spokane fell to 1-4.
“We lack game experience … it showed tonight,” Thorarinsson said. “The crowd was great, we’re very happy. It’s good to see that on opening night.”
The Shadow play at SFCC the next two Saturdays, with the Everett Bigfoot coming in first before Yakima returns.
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