Spokane Emerges From Shadow For Win

The Spokane Shadow is beginning to look like a team with which to be reckoned in the United States Interregional Soccer League.

After losing four of its first five matches, the Shadow notched its second consecutive win Saturday night, 1-0 over the Yakima Reds in front of an estimated 1,800 at Spokane Falls Community College.

“We are starting to play more as a team,” Spokane defender Matt Kinder said. “It takes awhile for a team that has never played together to be able to learn each other’s strengths.”

Spokane’s tally came when forward Dave Berto scored his teamleading fifth goal at 4 minutes, 18 seconds of the first half, taking a Jim Martinson pass and driving a hard shot over Yakima goalkeeper Kenneth Friesz. The ball ricocheted off the crossbar and bounced in to give the Shadow the only score it would need.

“Chad (Crithfield) had a great ball across and Jim played it perfectly,” Berto said. “It was actually one of the few plays that was planned the whole game.”

Crithfield and Berto kept the pressure on the rest of the first half, just missing on many opportunities while outshooting the Reds 9-4. Spokane netminder R.J. Merritt had to make only two saves as the ball was played in the Yakima end throughout the half.

The second half proved to be a little more back and forth as the Reds stepped up the pace and Spokane settled into a defensive stance.

“It was a chess match,” Spokane coach Einar Thorarinsson said. “Each team was trying to find the other team’s weaknesses without opening themselves up.”

Yakima had four good chances to tie it in the last 5 minutes, but Merritt and the Shadow defense came up big, playing every ball back to midfield.

The Shadow’s next two games are in Everett on Friday and Yakima on July 2 before returning home on July 8 for a the season’s final three matches.

Spokane 1, Yakima 0

First half - 1, Berto (Martinson) 4:18. Shots on goal - Yakima 11, Spokane 13.

Saves - Yakima, Friesz 5. Spokane, Merritt 6.