Lady Blackhawks soccer team falls to Ellensburg

Following a loss to East Valley in the Great Northern League championships on Oct. 30, the Lady Blackhawks varsity soccer team took on Ellensburg in a postseason regional tournament, putting up a valiant effort but ultimately succumbing 3-2 in overtime.

Cheney (11-9, 7-5) travelled to Ellensburg to challenge the Lady Bulldogs but couldn’t overcome a lackluster first half to secure the win. A goal by Ellensburg in the 33rd minute left Cheney trailing for the entire first half. A second score from the Bulldogs in the 59th minute looked to set up the Lady Blackhawks for a rough loss, but thanks to senior midfielder and forward Gabby Nguyen and junior forward Jocelyn Cone, the team was able to rally and equalize.

After a long, intense game, Lady Blackhawks just couldn’t quite deliver in overtime, with the Bulldogs eking out the win in the 87th minute in a forced penalty shootout that will send them to state.

The loss effectively ends the Lady Blackhawk’s season, though they will see some action at the annual alumni game, usually scheduled for the last week of July.

“We have yet to beat the alumni, so this is going to be the year,” head coach Nels Radtke said.

Radtke will be bringing in a college coach to help out during the team camp this summer, an opportunity that might extend to getting some of the girls on college radars.

The Lady Blackhawks might be done for the fall, but they will no doubt be back with a vengeance — and hopefully sporting fewer injuries — next season.

Shannen Talbot can be reached at shannen@cheneyfreepress.com.