MABTON - Orlando Alba recorded a hat trick and Osbaldo Alba had 4 saves in a 3-1 victory over the Vikings on the pitch in Mabton Saturday.

The win puts the Cougars at 5-2 with one match left in the first half of the season and into a three-way tie with Royal and Wahluke for second place in the 1A SCAC East Conference.

"It was a cold windy day, which made it very difficult to control our passes and kicks," coach Ed Aguilar said. "With the wind in our face, we finished 0-0 after the first half of play."

Warden dodged a bullet a couple of minutes into the match when keeper Osbaldo Alba made a skillful save off a rebound from a corner kick to hold Mabton off the board.

The action heated up in the second half of play when Warden struck twice within the first seven minutes to take a 2-0 lead. The first goal came at the 44 minute-mark off an assist by Antonio Figueroa to Orlando Alba who finished with a hard kick in the left side of the Vikings box. Alba's second goal of the match was recorded three minutes later off an assist by Carlos Figueroa. Mabton closed the gap to 2-1 on its only score of the match, which was a gift off an own goal by a Warden defender at the 60th minute of play. Alba iced the game with his third goal of the match minutes later to record his hat trick.

"We took command of the midfield in the second half on the play of Antonio Figueroa and Elias Valencia," Aguilar said. "With the score 2-1, we pressed Mabton defenders hard and got another pass from Antonio to Orlando who scored his third goal in the game."

The Cougars finished with 14 shots on frame to the Vikings 12. Osbaldo Alba had 4 saves for Warden. The Mabton keeper finished with 3.

Warden is back on the pitch tomorrow when the team hosts Kiona-Benton at 4 p.m.