Knights rule day

Josh Polello’s teammates rave about the power his right leg generates, witnessed by the 70-yard goal kicks that regularly rocket off the East Valley defender’s foot.

Polello’s leg powered EV (10-4) past West Valley (Yakima) 3-2 in a 3A Eastern Regional boys soccer match at Gonzaga Prep on Saturday.

The senior sweeper drove a line-drive, second-half free kick from more than 30 yards out at WV goalkeeper Jose Salazar, who leaped high to snag the shot. The momentum of the kick, however, carried the keeper over the goal line. As the junior keeper stood up, he carried the ball over the line for an own goal.

Polello assisted on the Knights’ first goal, threading a throw-in pass through the Rams’ defense to find Jeremy Jacobs alone in front of the goal barely 3 minutes into the contest.

“I was actually trying to put the ball down there for a header,” Polello said. “I guess it worked out OK.

“I’ve always played up and I guess my leg is a level stronger.”

What was strongest was EV’s defense.

Senior Jordan Selland drew praise from coach Jeff Rose.

“We put Jordan on their best player and he did a great job of shutting him down,” Rose said.

“All of us on defense have been playing together for as long as I can remember,” Selland said. “Knowing they had my back made all the difference in the world. I could take chances and make plays without having to worry about making a mistake.”

The Knights held the Rams (9-7) scoreless through the first half, but once the team went up 2-0, WV pumped up its intensity.

“We had trouble with their throw-ins all game long,” Rose said. “They do a great job of getting distance on their throw-ins – it’s almost like a corner kick. We talked about it at halftime and I told the guys to try and not allow them throw-ins, because that’s about the only way you can defend against them, but that’s pretty much impossible.”

Junior Ramon Ayala got behind EV goalkeeper Josh Peck to halve the Knights’ lead with 30 minutes to play.

Senior Cole Abramson set up the clinching goal an hour into the contest. The hard-charging forward broke free of his defender 35 yards out. When Salazar came off his line to defend the breakaway, Abramson dished to his wingman, junior Andrew Mastronardi, who flicked a slow roller past the diving goalkeeper to give the Knights a 3-1 advantage.

Carlo Savasta cut the lead to a goal by driving a shot from the top of the penalty area past a diving Peck with 10 minutes left.

“With these guys, you can never relax,” said Rose, who is coaching his final season at EV.

The victory was the seventh Knights game this season to be decided by a single goal. EV hosts Kamiakin (12-4) Wednesday at G-Prep.

Sunnyside 3, Mt. Spokane 1:

Freddy Sanchez, Alejandro Zaragosa and Alex Aguilar scored goals as the Grizzlies eliminated the Wildcats from the 3A regional tournament.

Christopher Waugh scored Mt. Spokane’s goal in the 80th minute.

The Wildcats (2-13) lost despite outshooting Sunnyside 8-7.