Columbia Basin extended its undefeated conference run with a commanding 3–1 victory over Yakima Valley on Wednesday afternoon in Pasco. From the opening whistle, the Hawks controlled possession and dictated the pace, attacking with patience and precision while holding Yakima Valley to just one shot on goal in the first half.
The breakthrough came midway through the opening period when Iva Hunt found the back of the net in the 23rd minute, finishing a smooth buildup play assisted by Hailey Despres. That early goal gave Columbia Basin a 1–0 edge that carried into halftime, reflecting their early dominance in both possession and territory.
Early in the second half, the Hawks continued pressing, and their persistence paid off again in the 55th minute. This time, Despres capitalized on a crisp feed from Zoey Forst, slotting home a composed finish to double the lead. Columbia Basin's attack stayed relentless, and in the 70th minute, Julianna Covarrubias put the game out of reach with a well-placed strike off an assist from Meche Fernandez, extending the margin to 3–0.
Yakima Valley managed to pull one back in the 81st minute, but Columbia Basin's defense, anchored by Darby Adams and goalkeeper Sam Groesbeck, held firm the rest of the way. The Hawks outshot the Yaks 12–4 and dominated corner kicks 7–6, showing their efficiency in both ends of the field.
With the win, Columbia Basin improved to 9–1–0 overall and 7–0–0 in NWAC East play, continuing to set the standard at the top of the standings. The Hawks will look to carry their momentum into their next conference matchup as they host Walla Walla at 2pm this Saturday.