Hounds Equalize Late

On Monday, Pullman Boys’ Soccer traveled north for a non-league match-up with GSL 3A Mt. Spokane. The sun was still shining and the temperatures were warm for the 6:30 PM kick-off.  Unlike Pullman’s other opponents this far this season, Mt. Spokane employed a low-pressure defense with good shape behind the ball that enticed the Hounds to play long balls  — balls that were slightly off target and easy for the Wildcats to intercept.  Surprisingly, that same low pressure discouraged the Pullman players from being active enough off-the-ball. The first 10 minutes were all Wildcats as Pullman learned to solve the problems present by the low pressure defense.

As the half progressed, the Hounds found a better rhythm, connecting shorter passes and taking space that forced Mt. Spokane to challenge the ball.   The Greyhounds missed a great opportunity to take the lead off a corner kick. The corner play was run to perfection with Clarens Dollin feeding Evan French who served from the end line, on the ground, into the box to an open Isaiah Bischoff. Bischoff had a good look at the goal but pushed it well over the cross bar — that particular play has yielded a number of good scoring chances already this season.

When the second half started the wildcats pressed the Greyhounds immediately, quickly scoring off a defensive mistake made by the Greyhounds. The mistake led to a breakaway for number eight Nicolas Briet, who chipped Goalkeeper Aaron Oatley. Oatley got a hand on the ball, but unfortunately the ball continued towards the goal. Defenders Nicolas Neville and Jackson Sutton were able to get back and make a challenge for the ball but it was too little too late. Mt. Spokane led the greyhounds 1-0 in the 54th minute of the game.

The Greyhounds didn’t let the goal get to their heads as they instantly went on the attack until the 78th minute when Marcelo Romero hit a rocket from the left side of the box, hitting the right side netting of the goal.

After the goal from Romero, both teams began to get frantic. After multiple missed time wasting calls against the Wildcats, the Greyhounds began to get frustrated. In the 80+2 minute of the game left back Leo Hoffman threw a ball into the stands to waste time and gained a yellow card for his efforts. The Hounds were knocking at the door until midfielder Isaiah Bischoff got fouled and kicked while on the ground, igniting a scuffle between the two teams. The scuffle netted the leading scorer  for the Hounds Clarens Dollin a red card and a four game suspension. Number ten on the Wildcats Majd Dimyati also got a red card for starting the initial confrontation. Mt. Spokane head coach Todd Slatter also seized a yellow card for dissent towards the referees.

Final Score: 1-1