Cheney soccer starts season in 2-1 shootout loss

First-year Cheney High School head coach Rene Caro started off the soccer season with a productive 2-1 shootout loss to Greater Spokane League’s Mt. Spokane on March 9.

“There was definitely some extremely visible first game jitters from the boys in the first half,” Caro said. “Our second half performance showed signs of improvement as we got our feet under us and started to play good soccer. We possessed the ball well and linked up in the final third of the field.”

The Blackhawks started off on the right foot with a 1-0 lead on a goal from Noah Schorzman with Alex Petropoulos collecting the assist. About 10 minutes later, Mt. Spokane scored the equalizer from 25 yards out.

“Noah proved to be a constant threat going forward, finally scoring a goal for his efforts and reinforcing our decision to move him into a more attacking role than he historically had been used to with the program,” Caro said. “Both Alex and Dawson Heuett showed great tenacity in the final third and found themselves in dangerous goal-scoring opportunities.”

In the shootout, the Wildcats outscored Cheney 4-3, giving them the win. Senior goalkeeper Dalton Mauzay collected six saves on the day.

“Dalton looked to give us nearly a win and an impressive shootout performance,” Caro said. “Moving forward, we will look to better manage the game when we have the lead and capitalize off of goal scoring opportunities that could seal the game for us. That being said, the team showcased a lot of great things that the coaching staff and I can take away from this.”

The Blackhawks entered the 2018 season with four seniors on the team including Mauzay, Gabe Hemenway (midfielder), Alexandar Torres (forward) and Alfredo Camarena (defender).

Juniors make up the majority of the team with nine including Trae Babcock (goalkeeper), Chayce Crawford (defender), Jerald Hollingsworth (defender), Samuel Fix (midfielder), Dillon Newbry (defender), Camden VerStrate (forward), Noah Schorzman (midfielder), Dillyn Reeder (midfielder) and Dylan Toler (defender).

Petropoulos (midfielder), Bastiaan Holland (midfielder) and Luke Hemenway (defender) make up the sophomores. The three freshmen on the roster include Dawson Heuett (midfielder), Aiden Carver (forward) and Colton Hodgen (forward).

“For my first game as head of the boys soccer program and my boys’ first game of the 2018 season, (it is) not the worst dress rehearsal,” Caro said. “I’m excited to see what this group can accomplish.”

Before starting his inaugural year in Cheney, Caro coached for Mount Vernon High School and assisted their head coach Tony Dabbs. Caro played his prep soccer also at Mount Vernon and went on to continue his sports career at the University of Portland. After college, he played professionally for the Kitsap Pumas of Bremerton, Wash.

Caro replaced previous head coach Morgan Hartanov who resigned in January 2017 and compiled a 22-15 record over two seasons.

The Blackhawks played on Tuesday, March 13 at home against University and play today (March 15) at Mead. Cheney opens Great Northern League competition on Saturday, March 17 at home against Pullman.

Grace Pohl can be reached at [email protected].