Cheney can’t convert

This one is going to hurt for a long, long time.

The Cheney Blackhawks carried a 19-0 record into the first round of the State 2A boys soccer playoffs, playing host to Prosser on their home field.

But instead of equaling last year’s run to the State 3A quarterfinals, the Blackhawks found themselves knocked out in the first round, falling to the Mustangs in a shootout after playing 90 minutes of scoreless soccer.

Cheney dominated play through regulation, despite playing the final 29 minutes shorthanded after defenseman Ryan Chang was red-carded for making a hard foul on a play at midfield – the card coming for the potential risk of injury on the play, not for a flagrant foul.

Through 80 minutes of regulation and two 5-minute, sudden-death overtime periods, the Blackhawks kept play in the Prosser defensive end.

“We had really good flow and we kept control of the game,” Cheney coach Steve Davis said. “But you don’t win games by doing that. You win games by putting the ball in the net.”

That was the one thing neither team did.

The Blackhawks had more chances, but Prosser goalkeeper Moi Marquez was equal to the challenge, leaping high to pull balls out of the air in front of the Mustangs’ goal and pouncing on any ball that came close to his goal box.

“We had to win in a shootout just to get here,” Prosser coach Rich Zoller said. “After we lost in the first round of the district tournament I told the guys that their state tournament was starting early. We’ve already had to win three loser-out games.”

The Blackhawks’ main scoring threat came in the final minute of regulation. Midfielder Caleb Johnson streaked into the goal box to head a crossing pass from Adam Brock off the cross bar.

Prosser finally found cracks in the Cheney defense in overtime, twice breaking through to put long shots on goal. The Blackhawks’ David Sigley was equal to the challenge, pouncing on each shot and igniting a counterattack.

Sigley turned up the heat in the shootout.

After Mitch Weller put Cheney up by converting his penalty shot, Sigley read Jesus Barajas and gathered in his attempt to give his teammates the advantage.

Marquez did the same on Caton Oyolokor and Magnus Harsfjord evened the score in round two.

Cheney’s Adam Zakrzewski and Prosser’s Anthony Cervantez each converted their shots, but Marquez came up with the game-winning save on Nathan Lewis’ shot in round four.

Caleb Johnson scored for Cheney to keep the Blackhawks alive, but Juan Alcaraz scored to give the Mustangs the 5-3 shootout victory.

“I am so proud of this team,” Davis said. “It’s tough to lose a game like this and I am really going to miss this group of seniors.

“They played the game with so much respect, so much trust, so much heart. I’m enormously proud of every minute they’ve been on the field.”

East Valley (Yakima) 4, Pullman 0: Mikael Rojas scored all three of the Red Devils’ first-half goals and East Valley eliminated the Greyhounds (14-5) from the State 2A tournament at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner.

Wahluke 1, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) 0: The Warriors scored on an own goal in the 46th minute and beat the Eagles 1-0 in the first round of the State 1A tournament at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner. Jed Stirn made 13 saves for Lakeside (14-3), which has been eliminated.