Cascade soccer team beats Selah, Prosser

The Cascade Kodiak boys' soccer team improved to 4-2 on the season with pair of hard earned victories over 2A Selah and 2A Prosser last week.

On March 20, Cascade hosted Selah in their first home game of the season. The Vikings jumped on the Kodiaks with a goal in the first 10 minutes on a well devised corner kick play. But after the goal, Cascade started rolling.

"We started to piece together passes and started to use the width of the field to our advantage. Finally, after 30 minutes, Cholo (Arturo Avila) struck. He received a pass on the left side of the 18, took a touch to his right and let fly a laser that beat the goalie into the upper right corner. Few players are able to execute such a goal," said Cascade Head Coach Pete Spiegel.

At halftime, it was 1-1.

Cascade made some halftime adjustments that really helped. Spiegel said they were able to do a better job on marking their best player, who created havoc for them in the first half.

"By containing their best player, we didn't have to defend quite so much. Ricky Barragan and Julian Alvarez, playing at our center back positions were stout in the back and were able to step up to the ball and then start our offense by transitioning quickly," Spiegel said.

Jose Rivera made perhaps the nicest assist of the season. Keeper Jose Mendoza set him a punt, which Rivera one touched to Cholo who was breaking to toward the goal. Cholo took the one touch around on the on-rushing goalie and put the ball home.

The last stages of the game, Efren Guerrera scored on a hustle goal, assisted again by Rivera.

"It was a well played match and a well deserved win. Everyone played well," Spiegel said.

On March 23, they travelled three hours to Prosser. The Kodiaks won 1-0, but Spiegel said they did not play well.

"Raul Mata scored his first goal of the season on a penalty kick. Jose Mendoza was the man of the match, notching the shutout. We were the better team, but had trouble stringing much together. Hopefully it was just because of the long trip," Spiegel said.

The Kodiaks hosted Cashmere on March 27. Results were not available before press time. Cascade plays a non-league game at always tough Brewster on Saturday.

Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.