TACOMA — After a 0-0 draw Thursday with Evergreen State, Walla Walla Community College looked to continue its second half momentum from Thursday’s match here Friday against Pierce College in non-conference NWAC men’s soccer action.
“The second half saw a much different WWCC side,” Warrior coach Ben Rotert said of Thursday’s tie. “We were able to start connecting passes which really calmed us down so we could play our game. I was proud of our response in the second half.”
The momentum didn’t last long Friday as Pierce’s Carlos Rodrguez put Pierce up 1-0 with a goal in the 8th minute. The Warriors came back to tie the match when former Wa-Hi product, Edwin Romero, got on the end of a Freddy Rodriguez through ball, and when the goal keeper came out to challenge, Romero chipped the ball into a wide open net.
The deadlock lasted until the 43rd minute when Rodriguez headed home a set piece service from just inside Pierce’s own half to give Pierce its final margin at 2-1.
The Warriors hit the post twice in the final 15 minutes but couldn’t get one into the back of the net.
“Today (Friday) was frustrating,” Rotert added. “We started well and had a couple of chances before giving up the goal in the 8th minute. We had wave after wave of attack but were unable to score. We knew they were going to be very direct, and that caused us a little trouble. Once we adapted, I thought we were the better side for most of the match. We just took some plays off. Credit to Pierce for capitalizing on them.”
The Warriors, 2-1-1 non-league, start East Region play Saturday as they host Wenatchee with a 2:15 p.m. kick off.
