Rams Are Target For 2A Hopefuls
STATE SOCCER
Pullman High soccer coach Doug Winchell wants another shot at defending State 2A champion Riverside.
His Greyhounds have lost three times this fall to the Rams and were runners-up to them in the Great Northern League.
Othello coach Bernie Garza also wants another shot at the Rams.
His Huskies lost to Riverside in a shootout last year in the state semifinals.
“We totally dominated,” said Garza, whose team beat Elma for third. “We were supposed to win that game. It could be a rematch.”
One of the two coaches will have his way if Riverside gets past East Valley-Yakima on Saturday.
A win by the Rams in the State 2A quarterfinal match, scheduled for 1 p.m. at Riverside, would put them in the semifinals against the Pullman-Othello winner next Friday at Federal Way Stadium.
Winchell likes his team’s chances if it advances.
The semis are on turf and that’s an advantage for Pullman, he said, because the Greyhounds can practice at Washington State University’s Martin Stadium.
“We just have to figure out how to finish,” Winchell said, noting his team has failed to capitalize on opportunities against Riverside.
The Greyhounds (14-4) will have to make the most of their chances Saturday when they travel to Othello for a 1 p.m. match. Othello (17-1-1) is No. 2 out of the Central Washington Athletic Conference behind Cashmere.
The Huskies tied with the Bulldogs, who are competing in the State 1A tournament, and their only loss was in their season-opener to East Valley-Yakima.
Othello, making its second straight state appearance and fifth in Garza’s six years, is led by senior midfielder Esther Mohs with 30 goals and 28 assists.
Riverside welcomed back senior Tracy Koesel last week. The midfielder and captain missed a number of games with a stress fracture in her left shin.
Senior midfielder Abi Ogle says the Rams can repeat as champions.
“We have been doing really well and have Tracy back so that will give us a better chance,” Ogle said. In State 3A action, East Valley (12-2-4) plays host Saturday at 1 p.m. to Kingco No. 2 Liberty of Issaquah, a 2-1 shootout winner over Mid-Valley No. 1 West Valley-Yakima on Wednesday.
The St. George’s and Northwest Christian boys teams both play today in State 1A/B loser-out first-round games at Albi Stadium.
St. George’s, third in State a year ago, plays at 11 a.m. against Valley/ Central No. 2 Sunnyside. NW Christian faces Valley/Central No. 1 Wahluke. Today’s winners play at 1 p.m. Friday at Albi for a berth in the Final Four.