EPHRATA — Ephrata matched up well with the East Valley speed up top. But the Tigers just couldn’t catch the break they needed to beat the CWAC co-leaders in Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Tigers Field.

Ephrata (2-5-2, 0-3 CWAC) sent a direct kick from just inside the midfield stripe at the 79th minute, in the ensuing scramble in the mouth of the goal, the shot on goal hammered off the near post skittered wide. It was the third quality shot of the half that was a fraction off the mark.

East Valley (7-1-2, 3-0 CWAC), which remains in a tie with Selah (7-1-1, 3-0) and Toppenish (9-1, 3-0), survived the scare with a late goal.

“Our effort today was amazing. My guys know in the CWAC it’s either give full effort or you’re going to get beat. I thought they played hard today,” Tigers coach Ivan Garay said. “We knew we had to give it the best effort of the season to beat East Valley, and I feel like we did.”

The Red Devils’ game-winner came under strange circumstances. They drew an indirect kick at the 18 with 6:40 remaining. Ephrata set up the wall, goalkeeper Josh Benthem directed the defenders. But as East Valley striker Juan Mendoza stepped to the ball, he hesitated and there was some confusion at the point of impact.

The Tigers’ defense stirred and went to adjust and all of a sudden the ball squirted through the line, low to the far post for what proved to be the game-winner.

“I try to communicate with my defense and tell them what I’m doing. But since they hadn’t touched the ball, he was able to come back and hit it again,” said Benthem, who finished the game with four saves, including an athletic stop on a one-on-one breakaway where he made a kick save with his right foot.

“I thought the defense played really well today. It was just a tough finish to a hard match.”

The Tigers got on the board first with a shot for the highlight reel. They brought Benthem out of goal to take the indirect from 15 yards on the other side of midfield. The junior put a big-legged kick on a ball into the box where Noe Sanchez caught East Valley keeper Jason Avila flat-footed, scoring the opening goal in the 23rd minute.

The league co-leaders responded two minutes later when Mendoza beat Benthem low and away to tie the match with 15 minutes remaining in the first half.

“We had the opportunities, we just didn’t score,” Tigers striker Luis Rodriguez said. “They started switching defenders in the second half and they started double marking me. We have good speed and we were trying to take advantage on the wings.”

With just six matches remaining in the regular season, the Tigers are backed up against the wall in terms of making the district tournament.

“We just have to approach every game like it’s the playoffs and win out,” Garay said.

East Valley 1 1 - 2

Ephrata 1 0 - 1

Shots: EV 6, Eph 5. Saves: EV 3, Eph 3

EPH - Noe Sanchez (Josh Benthem), 23:17

EV - Juan Mendoza (unassisted) 25:00

EV - Juan Mendoza (unassisted), 74:40