Ferris Finally Gets It Going Against Cv

GSL soccer

Ferris soccer coach Robin Crain isn’t sure why his team waited 10 games to play to its potential.

“I don’t know if they haven’t felt challenged up to this point, but today they felt challenged,” Crain said after the Saxons defeated previously unbeaten Central Valley 4-1 in Greater Spokane League action Monday afternoon at Ferris.

“Everyone got here early and they were really focused,” he said.

It was obvious.

Ferris (3-1) went ahead 1-0 a minute into the match when Evan Cummings scored an unassisted goal. The Saxons took four shots in the first 6 minutes and outshot the Bears 23-5 for the game, including 14-1 the second half. It avenged a 2-1 nonleague loss to CV.

Ferris beat CV (4-1) to the ball, slipped crisp passes through the midfield and stole the ball often.

Cummings also contributed in the Saxons’ second goal, finding Andy Sather at 18 minutes. Sather, a senior transfer from CV, beat two defenders and booted the ball into the bottom left corner of the net from 18 yards out.

Ferris played one of its best games of the year, Cummings said.

“We’ve been frustrated with the games before this,” he said. “We haven’t been playing to our potential. We hadn’t been working well together. We finally started clicking and this looks good for the future.”

In the second half, Sather crossed a free kick to Nathan Crary, who booted a goal from 20 yards at the 49-minute mark. Ian O’Neill had the team’s final goal at 78 minutes off a David White pass.

Nikko Gibson scored CV’s goal at 28 minutes. He had a beautiful left-footed goal taken away at 19 minutes on an offside call.

“Lately, we’ve just been squeaking by,” Gibson said. “On paper, we look unstoppable, with amazing talent. Now we just need to put it together for 80 minutes.”

Ferris played three matches last week during spring break, a GSL game with North Central and non-league games against Walla Walla and Juneau-Douglas of Alaska. CV, which has been battling injuries, hadn’t played in a week.

“We knew they were going to come out hungry,” Bears coach Craig Griffiths said of the Saxons. “At times we shined, but the rest of the time we dropped our heads.”

In other league games, Dan Dolan’s penalty kick at 75 minutes capped a Mead comeback as the Panthers (5-0) overcame rival Mt. Spokane (0-5) 2-1 to claim undisputed first place. Dolan got his opportunity following a hard tackle at the top of the box n the physical game. Elliott Fauske scored for Mead at 67 minutes for a 1-1 tie. Ryan Loft had given Mt. Spokane the lead at 7 minutes.

Lewis and Clark’s Robert Rowland scored three first-half goals and made two second-half assists as the Tigers defeated Rogers 7-0 at Hart Field. Beto Reyes, a senior exchange student from Leon, Mexico, scored at 38 minutes for LC (3-1), which outshot the Pirates (0-5) 23-3.

Freshman Jesse Anderson scored at 35 minutes and Shadle Park went on to win 3-0 at East Valley. The Highlanders (1-4) had not scored a goal in 675 minutes, since they defeated Rogers 4-1 in a non-league game March 13. EV (0-4) was held to seven shots.

Nick Ascolese scored twice, including the winning goal at 79 minutes, as Gonzaga Prep (3-1) defeated visiting University (3-2) 2-1. The Titans scored off a flip throw-in by Brian Velategui. Velategui’s throw bounced over the defenders and Kirk Jones chased it down and scored at 70 minutes.

Golf

Cheney’s Erica Leslie shot a 7-over-par 81 to earn medalist honors at the East Valley Invitational girls tournament at Liberty Lake.

Richland won the team competition with a 349. Central Valley was second at 393.

Richland golfers placed second, third, fourth and fifth.