SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republic Yakima's Junior Garcia jumps Cascade's Chris Andre to maintain control of the ball during the first half of Friday night at Marquette Stadium. Garcia scored on a stoppage-time penalty shot to salvage a 1-1 tie for the Reds. Links   E-mail             Print            Advertisement

YAKIMA -- Welcome back, Junior.

Prior to Friday night, the last time Junior Garcia played on the field at Marquette Stadium was last June when he suffered a season-ending injury that proved equally devastating to the Yakima Reds offense.

Friday, Garcia was back on that same field, enjoying a much more satisfying result, one that helped the Reds avoid a frustrating loss.

Garcia calmly nailed a penalty kick in stoppage time, rallying Yakima into a
1-1 tie with the Cascade Surge.

"Junior stepped up and really had some confidence," Reds coach Hector Vega said. "He didn't look nervous at all; he was really calm."

Despite his outward demeanor, Garcia admitted he was a little nervous stepping up with so much riding on the shot, which was set up when a Cascade player was called for a hand ball in the penalty area.

"There's extreme pressure -- especially when you're losing," said the former Sunnyside High standout. "I didn't want to miss it."

He didn't, as he blasted it into the left side of the net as Cascade goalie David Eguren dove to the right.

Garcia said the key was being prepared before moving forward.

"I thought about what I was going to do," he said. "I don't want to change my mind as I'm approaching the ball. Sometimes when you do that, you hit a really bad shot."

This one was struck perfectly and came just moments before the game ended, helping Yakima improve to 1-0-1 this season.

"You always want to win, but to go from losing to getting a tie feels good," Garcia said.

Garcia's goal allowed the Reds to salvage something despite a performance their coach considered inconsistent.

"We were a little flat," Vega said. "I don't think we were prepared to play, but they did what was necessary to get a tie."

Despite its uneven play, Yakima still managed to control the match, and had the better scoring chances, although there weren't many for either side.

Even when Cascade finally broke through, it wasn't the result of good teamwork, but rather good fortune.

The Surge's Tim Star gained control of the ball about 35 yards out on the left side and lofted a shot towards the Reds goal. Goalie Robert McCurdy backpedaled and appeared to have a play on the ball, even getting a hand on the ball, but it eluded his grasp and dropped just under the crossbar in the 73rd minute.

"It was fluky but it was also a good goal," Vega said. "That's the way soccer is. You don't always win when you have the best opportunities."

At least on this night, thanks to Junior, the Reds also didn't lose.

First half: No scoring.

Second half: 1, Cascade. Tim Star, 73:00; 2, Yakima, Junior Garcia (pk), 90:00.

Saves: David Eguren (C) 6, Robert McCurdy (Y) 5. Shots: Cascade 6, Yakima 6. Fouls: Cascade 17, Yakima 18. Corner kicks: Cascade 1, Yakima 5.