Job Well Done!

Ten days ago the Southridge Suns were 3-1 in league, right in the middle of the table with a bunch of other teams, and had the daunting task of playing four games in one week. Of the four games two were at home and two were away, with the away games taking us from the edge of South Eastern Washington to the middle of Central Washington in three days. As coaches we want to win every game but in all actuality we would have been happy to walk away from this stretch winning three games, and as tough as the stretch was two victories wouldn't have been the end of the world.

After sweeping our way through the first three we faced a stern challenge in the Wenatchee Panthers. They have some very dangerous attacking players and a very good goalkeeper. We knew going up there that despite their recent run of three losses in a row that we had a battle on our hands from the very beginning. The Suns played physical and challenged every ball, we were getting some good chances on goal and in the 29th minute Senior Captain Tanner Crass drove a free kick into the box where Jarad Brisbin headed it home for his Seventh goal of the campaign. It was Tanner's third assist of the season as the defender/midfielder/forward continues to do everything that is asked of him. He is currently enjoying his best season as a Sun, and look for more great things from him as the season continues.

The one goal would be enough to carry us through after some great goalkeeping and stout play from the back line. After posting his fourth shutout of the week Junior Captain Brandon Hale tied his own record of shutouts in a season with seven. Hale is quick to point out how great his defense is playing and acknowledges that without their effort things could be drastically different. Head Coach Chip Elfering has also credited the defense for not allowing a goal in the past 360 minutes "it's a total team effort, yes Conner Cravens, Phil Vorhies, Tanner Crass, and Josh Mendoza are playing great but without the midfielders coming back to help and even the forwards applying pressure to the ball the defense wouldn't be able to shut teams down"

The Suns are currently tied with cross town rival Kamiakin in second place with our next opponent Kennewick one game back. Please tell all your family members and friends to come to the game on Thursday at 7:00 pm. This is also a rivalry game and with both teams fighting to be top of the table it should be a great high school soccer match.