College Place, Wash. - Rocky Mountain College played as visitor for a match against the Wolves Friday afternoon. The Walla Walla players headed into the game expecting to be tested, as Rocky Mountain arrived ranked 4
th in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC). The Bears have enjoyed a well-rounded season, ranking in the top three in goals scored (24), assists (14), and goals allowed (5).
It didn’t take long for Rocky Mountain (6-2, 2-1 CCC) to deliver the first blow as Marco Kummerle sent a picture perfect cross from the left side of the pitch. His cross met the head of Mason Luse, who lifted the ball into the back of the net in the fourth minute. Following the opening goal, Wolves’ keeper Josiah Nakoa showed why he is leading the Cascade Conference in saves as he made seven stops in 15 minutes. The head of Mason Luse would strike again, however, giving the Bears a 2-0 lead in the 22
nd minute.
It was in the 28
th minute that Rocky Mountain Junior forward Nolan Sherwood began to add to his already hefty goal total on the season. Sherwood came into the match with five goals, making him the second ranked goal scorer in the CCC. A lapse in the Walla Walla defense saw Sherwood in a one-on-one situation with the keeper, the Bears’ forward powered the ball towards the far post, past the keeper, and into the bottom-left corner of the net. A second best goal-scoring ranking clearly isn’t enough for Nolan Sherwood, as he proceeded to score two more goals in the next five minutes to complete a first half hat trick. Three more goals from Pablo Ferreira (2), and Lachlan Gilchrist (1), gave the Bears a substantial 8-0 lead going into the half.
Rocky Mountain continued their goal scoring barrage only one minute into the second half, as Mason Luse added an assist to his two goals. Luse crossed the ball into the box, and a good first touch by Pablo Ferreira helped him finish up a hat-trick of his own. Ferreira calmly placed the ball past the diving Wolves’ goalkeeper and into the right side of the net. After goals by Adrian Lopez (59’), and Bilechi Sumali (84’), the Bears went on to secure the victory by a score of 11-0.
The Wolves (0-9, 0-5 CCC) will have to learn from this loss, but then quickly put it behind them as they prepare to face College of Idaho (1-3-2, CCC 0-3-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m. here in College Place.
The Bears continue their road trip, taking on Eastern Oregon on Sunday, September 30 at 1:30PM.