Lady Blackhawks searching for GNL win

The Cheney High girls soccer team is still searching for its first Great Northern League win of the 2015 season, but there are indications they are getting closer.

The Lady Blackhawks got back into the scoring column in a 4-2 loss to visiting West Valley Oct. 8, snapping a string of three consecutive shutouts by GNL opponents. Reba Eaton tied the game at 1 with a goal in the 22nd minute off an assist by Gabby Nguyen, and pulled Cheney back within one at 3-2 with an unassisted goal in the 56th minute.

Eaton also had a chance to tie the game at 2 around the 50th minute in the second half, but after making a nice move to get around two Eagles defenders, her shot on goal sailed high. West Valley capitalized on the miss immediately, working the ball down the pitch where Ashley Meyer scored her second goal of the day.

West Valley out shot Cheney 8 – 3, with Lady Blackhawks goalkeeper Nicole Rowley making four saves.

Cheney head coach Nels Radtke said his team gave the league-leading Eagles (7-1, 8-3) a battle, with the goal creating the final margin coming in the last minute.

The Lady Blackhawks traveled to Mount Spokane Oct. 9 to face the Lady Wildcats junior varsity in a non-league game, and got a chance to work on a new formation Radtke believes will give them a better chance at scoring. Instead of the 4-4-2 alignments - just two forwards - Cheney and other teams typically use, Radtke had them start in a 4-3-3 formation utilizing three forwards and three midfielders.

The Lady Blackhawks hadn't worked with the formation much, and were frustrated with it at the half, but gradually began working things out.

"By the end of the game, they really liked it," Radtke said.

Cheney lost 1-0 to the Wildcats, although Mount Spokane's goal really came off an attempted Cheney clear-out near goal that was deflected off a player and into goal in the first half.

Cheney returns to league action this week with a pair of road games, Oct. 13 at Pullman (1-6, 3-8) and Oct. 15 at East Valley (6-1, 8-2), who are one game and one point back of West Valley in second place. The Lady Blackhawks return home to face Clarkston (4-3, 5-4) in a rare Saturday game, Oct. 17.

Radtke feels they have a good chance at wins, but especially their second meeting with the Greyhounds.

Cheney lost 1-0 to Pullman Sept. 24 in a game that was their third in four days, including a pair against Greater Spokane League opponents. With only two subs available, Radtke said his players were tired - and played like it.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].