Blackhawks fall to East Valley in overtime

The Cheney High boys soccer team isn't having a lot of luck in overtime games this season – especially against East Valley.

The Blackhawks enjoyed a 2-0 lead for all but the last 15 minutes of regulation play March 31 at home against the Knights, thanks to a pair of penalty kick scores from Blake Smith in the 30th and 65th minutes. But head coach Morgan Hartanov has stressed finishing games to his team, and the Blackhawks were unable to do that, giving up a goal in the 75th minute and the equalizer by Demetri Konzenya, assisted by Joey Gretsch, as time expired, sending the game to overtime.

Three minutes into the first five-minute overtime period, Cheney couldn't clear a ball from in front of its goal, and the Knights Trevor Jacobs capitalized on the miscue to send home the goal that gave East Valley the 3-2 win. Cheney is now 1-3 in overtime games, including a 1-0 loss March 17 to the Knights that went to a shootout. The Blackhawks lone OT victory came against West Valley March 24.

The Blackhawks out shot East Valley 12-5, with goalkeeper Dalton Mauzay making three saves.

Cheney drops to 6-3 overall, 2-3, six points in Great Northern League play, just three points and one game back of the Knights. The Blackhawks have a challenge ahead of them with their one match this week, on the road at league-leading Pullman (7-2, 4-1, 12 points) April 5.

Cheney then gets the rest of spring break off, picking up action again when school is back in session by hosting Clarkston (2-5, 0-4, 0 points) April 12.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].