Cheney's soccer season comes to end in, of course, a shootout

Cheney High School’s boys soccer team ended their season in a shootout, which was the way most of their games went this season. This time it was against Clarkston in a 2-1 loss in the first round of the Great Northern League playoffs.

“The game was a microcosm of our entire season,” head coach Rene Caro said. “We are the better team for a majority of the game. However, a quick mental lapse costs us the lead and eventually, the game. I’m proud of the effort my boys put in throughout the season. It’s easy when your team wins all the time. What’s not easy is what my boys did time after time, lose and still have that desire to win, day-in and day-out.”

The Blackhawks got on the board first with a goal from Noah Schrozman, assisted by Wesley Nicol, in the 14th minute. Clarkston eventually tied the game in the 54th minute from a free kick.

At the end of regulation, it was still tied and the game was sent into overtime. After no score, it ended up being a penalty shootout. Both sides made all four of the first kicks. The Blackhawks missed the fifth shot and senior goalkeeper Dalton Mauzay also blocked Clarkston’s fifth kick, forcing sudden-death.

Cheney’s sixth shot was blocked while Clarkston found the back of the net, giving the Bantams the 2-1 win.

“This was a tough pill to swallow because my boys did everything right,” Caro said. “Luke Hemenway really stepped up and put in a next level performance to completely shut down the GNL Offensive Player of the Year, Theodore Baiye. Dalton Mauzay, like Clarkston’s goalkeeper, Alessandro Italia, proved why they were both All-League First Team selections after making ridiculous saves that we were sure were goals.”

The Blackhawks finished 3-13 in league and 2-10 overall. Cheney will lose four seniors, Gabe Hemenway, Alexander Torres, Alfredo Camarena and Mauzay.

“Looking back on our season, we play in a competitive district and played our best games against the top teams in the GNL,” Caro said. “Unfortunately, we don’t have the results to prove it and, because of it, we need to take some time this off-season to correct those little details so that we can come out next year and deal with those 10 minutes that make or break your season.”

Grace Pohl can be reached at grace@cheneyfreepress.com.