Warrior Women's Soccer Uses Flurry of First Half Goals to Get Back to Winning Ways
Walla Walla, WA - The Walla Walla Community College Women's Soccer team used a quick start in the first half and an outstanding effort from Karen Villegas to earn a 4-1 victory over the visiting Yaks of Yakima Valley College. Tonight's win marks the first match win for the Warriors since their victory over Treasure Valley at the end of September and helps them to remain tied for 3rd place in the NWAC East standings with four matches to play.
WWCC would open the scoring early and never look back as Payton Anderson got the party started in the 9th minute, finding the back of the net off of the first of two assists in the match for Karen Villegas. Only a few minutes later, Villegas would find another one of her teammates, Soleil Hoefer, who would bury a shot and double the early Warrior lead in the 15th minute. The lead wouldn't hold at two for long though, as in the 19th minute the Yaks were able to grab a goal of their own to trim the Walla Walla advantage back to one. However, the Warriors were determined to extend their lead before the end of the first half and in the 21st minute, Bailey Bloxham stepped up to take a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box and was able to drive the ball past both the wall and the Yakima Valley keeper to give WWCC a 3-1 lead at the half.
The pace of the scoring in the second half would slow dramatically and both teams would go back and forth trading opportunities, but neither side could capitalize to impact the score. That was until the Warriors were able to draw a Yaks foul in the box in the 60th minute to earn a penalty kick, which Karen Villegas would take and make the most of, tucking it past the keeper to make the score 4-1. Villegas would finish the match with two assists and a goal to her name, playing a pivotal role in the WWCC attack. As a team, the Warriors registered 16 total shots in the match, 10 of those coming in the second half, to give them the 4-1 win. Kenzie Christian earned the win in goal for Walla Walla, making 2 saves on the 3 total shots she was challenged by from the Yaks.
What's next?
The Warriors will head north on Saturday (October 18th) to take on Wenatchee Valley in Wenatchee, WA. Kickoff of the match is slated for 2:15 PM. Only one more home contest remains on the schedule, so be sure to mark your calendars for Sophomore Night on October 25th against Spokane.