Aberdeen got a stoppage-time goal to break a tie and emerge with a 3-2 win over WF West on Thursday in Chehalis.

Tied at 2-2 late in the second half, Aberdeen’s Jaylynn Phimmasone fought off a Bearcats defender then blasted a shot from the 18-yard line to give Aberdeen a 3-2 lead.

The Bobcats (2-0 overall, 1-0 2A Evergreen) got on the board in the first half by playing what head coach Larry Fleming said was “a much improved game” and by dominating field position.

It paid off early on when senior midfielder Marina Marll sent a long ball toward senior forward Maddi Gore, who ripped an opposite-foot shot off the WF West keeper and in for a 1-0 lead in the second minute of the game.

WF West (2-3, 1-1) responded in the 10th minute with a goal by Cameron Sheets.

Aberdeen regained the lead in the second half when Marll fed another assist to Gore, who beat the keeper 1-on-1 for a 2-1 lead.

A few short minutes later, WF West tied the game once again when Sheets found Lena Fragner for a goal in the 47th minute.

Aberdeen kept up a high-pressure line on WF West, pinning the Bearcats in their defensive half of the field for much of the remainder of the second half.

The pressure paid off in stoppage time when Phimmasone’s aforementioned goal gave the Bobcats the lead for good.

A hustling defensive effort by the Bobcats made the lead stick over the final few minutes of the contest, giving Aberdeen the victory in its league-opener.

“The girls started to get after the ball in the second half and it paid off with many good looks at the Bearcats net,” Fleming said. “Communication and organization were drastically better than last game, so besides the win, we just played much better soccer tonight.”

Fleming commended the play of Gore and Annie Troeh for pressuring the ball up front and Marll, Phimmasone and Zoe Troeh for playing strong games in the midfield.

Aberdeen will play on the road in a league matchup against Black Hills at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Tumwater.

Aberdeen 1 2 — 3

WF West 1 1 — 2

Scoring

First half — 1, Aberdeen, Gore (Marll), 2nd minute. 2, WF West, Sheets, 10th minute.

Second half — 3, Aberdeen, Gore (Marll), 41st minute. 4, WF West, Fragner (Sheets), 48th minute. 5, Aberdeen, Phimmasone, 80th minute.

Montesano 2, Seton Catholic 0

Montesano got a pair of goals and played rock-solid defense in earning a 2-0 win over Seton Catholic on Thursday in Vancouver.

Monte (4-1) opened the scoring when junior forward Mikayla Stanfield converted a feed from Sam Roundtree in the 18th minute.

In the second half, Anabelle Estrada dribbled through the Seton Catholic defense and scored on a shot from the 18-yard box to put Monte up 2-0 in the 46th minute.

Bulldogs keeper Riley Timmons and the Monte defense did the rest of the work. Timmons saved all nine shots she faced on goal, including what Monte head coach Fidel Sanchez dubbed “a critical save” in the second half.

The shutout was Timmons’ third clean sheet of the season.

“It was a much improved Seton Catholic team,” Sanchez said. “Nonetheless, we controlled possession and moved the ball really well today.”

Montesano was outshot 13-6 and Seton Catholic held an advantage in corner kicks 6-2.

Monte will host Black Hills at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22.

Montesano 1 1 — 2

Seton Catholic 0 0 – 0

Scoring

First half – 1, Montesano, Stanfield (Roundtree), 18th minute.

Second half – 2, Montesano, Estrada, 46th minute.

Elma 3, Columbia-White Salmon 0

An emphasis on defense has proven fruitful for Elma once again after a 3-0 win over Columbia-White Salmon on Thursday at Columbia High School.

The Eagles (3-1) got a goal in the second minute of the game when Beta Valentine sent a through ball toward the Bruins’ net. Elma’s Miley Seaberg beat a sliding Bruins keeper to the ball for a 1-0 lead.

Valentine doubled the lead after the sophomore forward received a long throw-in from Valerie Echeverria, turned and slotted a left-footed shot past the near post in the 30th minute.

Late in the second half, Valentine took a centering pass from Seaberg and scored for the 3-0 win.

Elma’s defense allowed no goals for the third time this season.

Elma goal keeper Emmie Spencer was unavailable to play on Thursday, so Eagles head coach Evan Valentine promoted Mylee Hull from the junior varsity squad to make her first varsity start, which turned out to be a clean-sheet victory.

“Credit to Columbia-White Salmon. They have significantly improved since the last time I saw them,” Coach Valentine said. “They were here to play and showed up right away. … It was a good game. We played well. I was proud of my team and how they moved, how they passed the ball and the way we held our ground in the important parts of the field.”

Elma will host Toeldo at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Elma 2 1 — 3

CWS 0 0 — 0

Scoring

First half — 1, Elma, Seaberg (Valentine), 2nd minute. 2, Elma, Valentine (Echeverria), 30th minute.

Second half — 3, Elma, Valentine (Seaberg), 70th minute.