Turf or no turf, Warden stays course in 2-nil victory
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin HeraldRoyal goalkeeper Chenoa Louie, left, attacks Warden striker Aubree Skone (3) as she tries to shoot off a corner kick in the second half of Tuesday's SCAC East match at David Nielsen Stadium.
ROYAL CITY — It really didn’t take the Warden girls long to make the adjustment from playing on the natural grass they’re used to at home to the turf at David Nielsen Stadium.
Ashlyn Yamane put on a burst of speed on a cutback cross, gathered the Aubree Skone through ball and beat Royal goalkeeper Chenoa Louie in the 22nd minute to score the first goal of Tuesday night’s SCAC East match.
Grace Richins scored 1:42 into the second half and the Cougars (4-0, 2-0 SCAC East), who outshot the Knights 19-5, beat Royal 2-nil.
“We play on turf, like once a year … here,” said Skone, who had three of Warden’s 13 shots on goal. “It’s definitely different. The ball goes so fast. We need to make through balls a little bit earlier.
“We just try to keep the ball on the ground a little more because it’s easier to track it and make the shot.”
The numbers are a little one-sided in Warden’s favor, but the match was pretty straight up even though the second goal put the pressure squarely on the Knights (1-4, 1-3).
“Warden has a handful of quality girls who are dangerous and who lead the attack. We hoped to stifle them and begin to find our own creative rhythm,” Royal coach Jens Jensen said. “While we looked better as the match went on, we have still not quite put it all together.”
Warden took advantage of a misunderstanding between Louie and her defender out front just after the whistle into the second half and instead of working back from a one-goal deficit, the Knights found themselves playing on the heels, trying to press against an impressive Cougar defense.
“I think our speed really helps us and playing on the turn made us faster. We’re pretty good with the ball skills, so with the speed it’s boom, boom, boom,” said midfielder Aaliyah Escamilla. “Our defense is pretty solid. I try to get back and help out as much as I can.”
The Cougars took 19 shots and put 13 of them on goal, compared to five Knights shots, three of which were on goal. Ellie Conahan made three saves in net, including a point blank shot by Royal’s Arely Cruz. Cruz pushed up the right wing and made a nifty counter step inside the defender, driving into the box late in the second half. Her shot was intended to go low to the near post, but the ball lifted just ever so slightly and Conahan made a spectacular save, gathering the ball with both hands on the big right-footed shot. Louie made seven of her 11 saves in the second half.
“It’s always a challenge to play on turf, but I thought they all stepped up,” Warden coach Hannah Mohs said. “The ball bounces higher. The through balls that would be there are quicker. We work on making sure we’re assisting each other and helping each other out as much as possible.”
Warden hosts Kiona-Benton (4-1, 3-0) on Thursday and Royal travels to Cle Elum on Tuesday.
Warden 1 1 - 2
Royal 0 0 - 0
W - Ashlyn Yamane (Aubree Skone), 22:44
W - Grace Richins (unassisted), 51:11
Shots on goal: Warden 13, Royal 5
Saves: Elli Conahan (Warden) 3, Chenoa Louie (Royal), 11
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