What’s that old saying about where “close” almost counts? Horseshoes and hand grenades come to mind.
The Medical Lake soccer team was close twice last week but still lost Northeast A League matches 2-1 at league-leading Colville, April 19, and 1-0 at Newport, April 21.
“We played them strong,” Cardinals’ head coach Zane Higgins said of Colville, which improved to a perfect 6-0 in the NEA (7-0 overall) in a contest where his team had plenty of late chances and its only goal.
Colville has a couple of attackers that have caused Medical Lake trouble in the past, and did so last week, too.
After the Indians went up 2-0 on goals in the sixth minute by Alberto Cisneros and 55th minute by Noah Rarrick, the Cardinals (2-4 NEA, 4-7 overall) struck with Alex Garza, normally a defender, making it close at 61 minutes.
Garza’s shot came from inside the 18-yard box as he put the ball low to the far post and ruined keeper Cyrus Butterfield’s shutout. Medical Lake keeper, Sam Matt, made 13 stops on 15 Colville shots.
Thursday at Newport (4-2, 7-4), this time it was the Grizzlies who scored late with the game’s only goal coming in the 67th minute from Leo Fernandez.
Adam Moorhead, just a freshman, made 11 saves to earn the shutout while Garren Garza stopped 17 of 18 in a relatively busy day between the pipes.
“We may have even played a stronger game against Newport,” Higgins said. “The last three games we’re just having problems putting the ball in the net; we’re off and on with that.”
Medical Lake was at winless Deer Park (0-6, 0-9) April 26 and is home today (April 28) at 4 p.m. versus Lakeside (3-3, 3-6).
Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].
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