EPHRATA - The Ephrata Tigers played an unwelcome host as they turned back Othello 8-0 in a Central Washington Athletic Conference (CWAC) soccer match Tuesday.

"We were coming into this game with only four returning starters from last year's team that didn't make the playoffs," coach Bernie Garza, who took over the program this season said. "And to make matters worse, on game day we got news two of those starters couldn't make the trip as they had personal commitments to attend."

So with nine new starters on the team and only two veteran players, Tessa Johnston (right mid-fielder) and Kimberlee Bullis (left forward) available for the game Garza said the Huskies were, " up a creek without a paddle" from the get go. 

The Tigers got on the board early and often in the first half of action scoring four goals on Othello. Things didn't get any better for the Huskies as Ephrata doubled the score in the second half of play.

"Ephrata is a very talented team with several girls playing year round on the Columbia Basin United squad," Garza said. "They outplayed us in all aspects of the game."

The Huskies received a big blow prior to the season when Alicia Reyes veteran and three-year starting goal keeper decided not to turn out this year.

"She had a change of heart and opted to run cross county this year," Garza said. "So we had to bring up Claribel Dominguez from the junior varsity team to take her place. This was her varsity debut.  She recorded one save out of 10 shots ... and eight went in."

Garza said the team did show a lot of heart in the loss and came close to scoring, but the three shots they had on goal were wide of the mark.

"We did have some positives come out of this game," he said. "The girls didn't quit and kept battling the entire match. However, we have lots of areas to work on and we will use this week to improve ourselves."

The bad news resulting from the match for the Huskies, he said, was he believes the Tigers aren't the best team in the league this year.

"West Valley of Yakima, East Valley, Selah and Ellensburg look to be strong this season," Garza said. "But, who knows, this could be the year for Ephrata. It's going to be a long season if we don't get our act together quickly." 

Othello will use the next four non-league games to shift players around and find a starting 11 that can compete with the likes of Tigers.

"Hopefully with our two starters  Daisy Salgado and Stephanie Tolley back for the rest of the season it will be a different result against Ephrata the next time we play," Garza said.

The Huskies are back on the pitch today when Othello hosts West Valley at noon.

Ephrata is also back in action today when the Tigers travel to Grandview to match up with the Greyhounds.