YAKIMA — Walla Walla Community College rode three second-half goals to a 3-0 win over Yakima Valley here Saturday in NWAC East women’s soccer action.
The Warriors and Yaks battled to a scoreless tie at intermission.
“We faced one shot in the first half and that sailed over the net,” Warriors coach Jordan Hacker said. “We had four or five clear chances to score, but couldn’t convert.
“Our defense played well in the first half,” Hacker continued. “Our back group (Dem McLean, Blake Danna, Fany Cossio, and Jade Higley) did a great job corralling one of the most potent attacks in all of the NWAC.”
The Warriors got the lid off the net in the 49th minute. Madison Brownell found Klarissa Baraja who found the back of the net for a 1-0 Warrior lead.
It took the Warriors almost another 30 minutes of action to add insurance to the 1-0 lead. Higley finished an assist from Sally Culig for an insurmountable 2-0 Warrior lead. A minute later, the Warriors added the clincher. This time Higley was on the assisting end as she found Pua Kauhaihao who nailed her shot to produce the final 3-0 victory margin.
“The second half was more wide open,” Hacker said of the Warrior three-goal half. “After Baraja’s goal, the game was back and forth with neither team creating much of an attack. At the 70th minute mark, we turned it up a notch to add two more goals to seal the win.”
In goal for the Warriors, Danielle Dowd recorded the shut out with four saves.
The Warriors improve to 6-2-1 in the East and trail Spokane and North Idaho.
“We came to play today and showed ourself what type of team we are,” Hacker summarized. “We came into our own in the last 20 minutes. We kept the game at a fast pace, and we were in control of the match. I’m proud of this group and who they are becoming.”
The Warriors travel to Blue Mountain in Pendleton Wednesday for a 1 p.m. kick off with the TimberWolves.
