OTHELLO — A dominant first half secured the win for Othello in Saturday’s boys soccer rivalry match against Connell, defeating the Eagles 4-1 in their first game of the 2024 season.

The Huskies netted all four of their goals in the first half

“A win in the first game is always a positive,” Othello head coach Bernie Garza said. 

After being shut out of both jamboree scrimmages Thursday, Garza said the Huskies were looking forward to scoring Saturday; Othello scored two goals in the first 15 minutes against Connell.

“The guys were excited,” Garza said. “We were at the jamboree in Pasco the other day, we tied to Kennewick and lost to Pasco 2-0 … they’re hungry to score goals because we didn’t score any goals. You’ve got to come out strong and prove your dominance at home; defend your turf, and that’s what they did.”

The first goal came in the 8th minute off the foot of sophomore Luis Farias, with junior Larry Maldonado later putting Othello up 2-0 in the 15th minute with a goal of his own.

“It was my first opportunity, so I had to take it,” Farias said.

Senior Anthony Abundiz scored on a header off a throw-in by senior Don Eldred to put the Huskies up 3-0; Othello’s final first-half goal was an own goal by Connell after the ball bounced off of Abundiz on a throw-in by Eldred, and ricocheting off of an Eagle defender.

The throw-ins by Eldred were a key set piece Garza said, as the senior was able to toss the ball from the side boundary to the goal area.

“Once the first one opens up, then the floodgates open up and people start scoring and get excited,” Garza said. “They want to score — we have a couple set pieces with corner kicks and long throw-ins, and we scored the two goals off of long throw-ins. That’s going to be a dangerous set piece for us.”

Othello held the Eagles to zero shots in the first half. Connell managed to score a goal of their own in the 77th minute, scoring from the right side of the net.

“It’s the work we’ve been putting in, we communicate with each other,” Farias said. “That’s what’s been helping us get better and start strong.”

The Huskies continue non-league play with a home game against Hanford on Tuesday and a road game against Wahluke on Thursday before Central Washington Athletic Conference play opens with a road tilt against Prosser on Saturday.

“(We’re) using the non-league games to get the right players in the right positions, and get the mentality of ‘This is my spot, and you have to try and beat me to get that spot,’” Garza said. “We have 22 players, and every starter has one guy behind them trying to beat them. They’re always challenging them, but it’s a good start.”

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.

Box score

CON: 0-1 1

OTH: 4-0 4

    Othello scored four goals in the first half against Connell Saturday afternoon, winning their season opener 4-1 over the Eagles.
  

    Othello junior Larry Maldonado (9) and junior Ruben Mancilla, right, celebrate after Maldonado scored a goal in the first half against Connell.
  

    Othello senior Felipe Haro (11) brings the ball up the field Saturday against Connell.