GRANGER - The Cougars maintained a tight grip on second place in the 1A SCAC East soccer standings with three wins on the pitch over a span of four days.

Warden picked up a road win at Granger Saturday, beat Connell at home April 18, and turned back Naches Valley on the road April 16. The victories improve the Cougars to 10-3 and sets up showdown at home with 4-time state champion Wahluke (9-3) this afternoon.

Warden 2

Granger 0

The Cougars got off to a slow start offensively against the Spartans as the teams went to intermission without a goal scored. But after making some adjustments at the half, Warden's Orlando Alba found the back of the Granger box at the 64th minute of play to put the Cougars up 1-0.

"Fernando Landeros hit a hard shot at the Granger goalie that he could not control," coach Ed Aguilar said. "Orlando got the rebound and put it back for the first goal of the game."

The Spartans had an opportunity to tie the match on a penalty kick, but Warden's keeper Osvaldo Alba dove to his left on the strike to block the attempt.

"That play really inspired the team and we went on to score another goal with about 10 minutes left," Aguilar said. "Osvaldo was the hero of the game."

Elias Valencia (Landeros) recorded the second score for the Cougars. The shutout was Warden's eighth in 13 games.

Warden 4

Connell 0

Orlando Alba scored two goals and Jesus Dominguez added another as Warden blanked the Eagles at home. Alba's first score came off an assist by Landeros 35 minutes into the contest to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead. The score held up through halftime.

Dominguez (Orlando Alba) made it 2-0 at the 47 minute mark. Alba's second score (Antonio Figueroa assist) of the match came in the 72nd minute of action to push Warden's lead to 3-0. The final goal was recorded by Peter Manville (Valencia).

"The last goal was the nicest goal scored in the last five games," Aguilar said. "Elias outran the defenders on the right side of the field and centered the ball to Peter who jump in front of the Connell keeper to head the ball in the opposite side of the box."

Warden 9

Naches 1

Orlando Alba scored three first half goals to record his second hat trick of the season in a lopsided win over the Rangers. Peter Manville and Oswaldo Ramirez added a goal each to give Warden a 5-0 lead at the break.

Two second half goals by Noe Jaime, and one by Jesus Dominguez made it 9-0 Cougars. A goal by Ryan Willard at the 78 minute mark allowed Naches to avoid the shutout.

Warden is back on the pitch today when the Cougars host Wahluke at 4 p.m.