The visiting Tri-Cities Alliance made it two for two in road games against their other EPLWA Columbia Division opponents to open their debut season. After rallying for a 3-2 in Spokane last week, Alliance grabbed a 1-0 victory in Yakima Saturday. Spokane, meanwhile, rebounded with a 4-0 win against Bellingham.
Perhaps aided a bit by the wind, Yakima had plenty of early looks on the offensive end, but it was Tri-Cities in front at the break thanks to a goal from Ricky Chicas, who calmly first-timed a bouncing chipped ball just inside the box in the 36th minute.
Lenin Guzman nearly made it a two-goal advantage with a minute left with a chance at the back post, but was unable to get the finishing touch.
Four minutes after the break the Hoppers nearly pulled even when a shot from Fuentes forced a save from Antonio Gonzales, who tipped it off the crossbar. Three minutes later a header from Shibala whistled just wide of the net at the far post on a corner.
Tri-Cities came right back with a pair of chances of their own a minute later. Mario Guizar slipped a shot just over the goal and then shortly after the restart stole the ball and forced a save from Luis Birrueta at the near post in the 53rd.
A nice chip in the 59th from Ayala created a near-miss opportunity inside the six by Esquivel. A shot from Guizar glanced the outside of the post for TCA in the 76th and Acevedo nearly added some insurance two minutes from time, but Birrueta made a big save.
Yakima nearly grabbed a late equalizer with a minute of regulation left when Juan Licea nodded a ball into a crowded box, but it was cleared away by Guillermo Silva.
Tri-Cities Alliance 1-0 Yakima United
TCA: Ricky Chicas 36
In other action for area teams, Spokane Shadow U23 bounced back from last week's loss with a 4-0 victory against Bellingham. Spokane snapped a four-game losing streak to the Hammers with the result. Mike Ramos led the way with a goal and two assists as four different players tallied on the night. Luis Hernandez recorded the shutout in his first appearance.
Bellingham United 0-4 Spokane Shadow U23
SPO: Chase Reidt (Mike Ramos) 23
SPO: Mike Ramos 43
SPO: Eric Espinoza 62
SPO: Karl Muelheims (Mike Ramos) 80
Shutout: Luis Hernandez
Current EPLWA - Columbia Division Standings
Tri-Cities Alliance 2-0-0… 6 points
Spokane Shadow 1-1-0… 3
Yakima United 0-2-0… 0
Northwest Premier League
Yakima earned a split on the day with a 2-1 victory over Twin City Union. The Hoppers rallied for the victory with Lauryn Peters scoring just before the break to tie it up and Brittany Little finding the winner in the 90th minute.
Natalie Nagle slipped a ball forward on the equalizer for Yakima as Peters took it and continued the run into the box before putting it past the charging keeper.
A miss-hit clearance inside the penalty arc by the visiting keeper with just seconds remaining in regulation led to the winner as the ball went nearly perpendicular off the attempted boot. It would end up right in the path of Little for an open net finish.
Twin City Union 1-2 Yakima United
TC: Selesha Harrah (Alayna Miller) 26
YAK: Lauryn Peters (Natlie Nagle) 38
YAK: Brittany Little 90
NCW Alliance were idle this weekend.
About T4 Round-Up: The recap of 'Tier Four' action covers the sides in eastern and central Washington playing in the National Premier Soccer League, Evergreen Premier League (the fourth tier in US Soccer) and the women's equivalent Northwest Premier League.
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