Defense keys ML soccer wins

Playing their best defense of the season in a pair of Northeast A League soccer matches last week ended a losing streak and pushed Medical Lake soundly back into the playoff picture.

"The second half of both games were our strongest of the year," head coach Zane Higgins said.

With wins of 5-1 over Newport (0-7 NEA, 0-7 overall) on Oct. 3 and 4-0 over Riverside (1-7, 1-8), Oct. 5, the Cardinals (5-3, 6-5) ended their four-game skid and are primed to battle Freeman for the No. 2 seed in the postseason with three contests remaining.

"Nicole (Wetherell), Jaxyn (Farmen) and Mercedes (Kindell) have...