Cheney's Camden VerStrate tries to keep the ball in play and away from Pullman defender Jed Byers in the first half of the Blackhawks 2-0 loss to the Greyhounds.
With the regular season's end rapidly approaching, the Cheney High boys' soccer team pretty much knows where they'll start the upcoming Great Northern League playoffs - on the road. Who that opponent will be remains to be seen, and the Blackhawks could have a hand in making that selection.
Cheney has suffered three straight loses, the last two coming last week at East Valley, 2-1, and at home against league-leading Pullman, 2-0.
Knights' midfielder Chase Binder broke a scoreless tie with a goal in the 51st minute last Tuesday, April 19, assisted by Trevor Jacobs. Cheney got the equalizer six minutes later on Graham West's unassisted goal, only to have Jacobs score the game winner in the 74th minute off a throw-in by Devonte Gorman.
Cheney out shot East Valley 7-4 with Dalton Mauzay making a pair of saves.
Thursday, the Blackhawks found themselves facing a stingy Pullman defense that has surrendered just four goals all season, counting eight shutouts among its 10 wins coming in. Ryan Campbell and Matt Winchell notched goals for the Greyhounds in the eighth and 43rd minutes and the defense anchored by goalkeeper Will Pitzer denied Cheney any good looks at goal for their 11th win and ninth shutout.
Pullman out shot Cheney 11-3 with Mauzay making seven saves.
Cheney drops to 3-7 in the GNL, nine points, and 7-7 overall. The Blackhawks have a couple final opportunities this week to get back in the win column and maybe get a little momentum heading into the playoffs, traveling to Clarkston (0-9, 2-10) Tuesday and wrapping up the season at home with Senior Day today (Thursday) against third-place West Valley (6-4, 18 points, 8-6).
Wins in the final two games wouldn't help the Blackhawks overtake West Valley in the standings. But a win over the Eagles would give Cheney the season series, 2-1, and potentially could set up a rematch in the first round between the two teams in Millwood.
West Valley is within a game of East Valley (7-2, 21 points, 8-3), and the Knights are within a game of Pullman, (8-2, 24 points, 11-3). All three teams play each other in the final week, with the only difference being East Valley has one additional game with Clarkston.
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].
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