Elma faced what was likely its toughest opponent of the season while Aberdeen’s Scotlyn Lecomte had a hat trick as we review Tuesday’s girls prep soccer games on the Harbor.
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GIRLS PREP SOCCER
Tumwater 11, Elma 1
Elma’s brutal non-league schedule continued on Tuesday as the Eagles suffered an 11-1 loss to Tumwater in Elma.
The Eagles (0-3 overall) were overwhelmed facing one of the 2A class’ better programs, falling behind 2-0 just seven minutes into the game on a goal by T-Birds midfielder Lucy Bergford and a penalty-kick goal by defender Kayla Pope.
Bergford struck again in the ninth minute, converting a Reese Heryford cross for a 3-0 lead.
A Pope header off a corner kick staked Elma to a 4-0 deficit 12 minutes into the game.
After playing much of the first 20 minutes deep in their own end, the Eagles got some offense when senior forward Beta Valentine gained possession and outran the Tumwater defense. Valentine got around a T-Birds defender, who grabbed her jersey and pulled her down inside the penalty area, earning Elma a penalty kick.
Valentine then calmly shot the ball inside the right post for what would turn out to be Elma’s lone goal of the game in the 22nd minute.
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Elma senior forward Beta Valentine (12) is congratulated by her teammates after scoring on a penalty kick in the first half of Elma’s 11-1 loss to Tumwater on Tuesday in Elma.
A Tumwater goal by Trinity Edwards off a corner kick in the 34th minute followed by another T-Birds goal three minutes later put Elma down 6-1 entering halftime.
Tumwater scored five more goals after the break to hand the Eagles the 11-1 loss.
“That probably going to be the best team we face all season, regardless of how far we go,” Elma head coach Evan Valentine said of Tumwater. “I’m happy that Tumwater kept taking it to us. That’s competition and if you lose, you lose and you just have to get better. I appreciate that as a competitor myself. We are not going to get better if they take it easy on us. … We’re going to learn. This (pre-league season) is a refiner’s fire and we’re OK with that. We are going to get better on the other end because of it, that’s the plan.”
Despite the lopsided loss, Elma showed that when it had its chances, the offense can still be potent.
Beta Valentine’s goal was a product of the Eagles’ first offensive break deep into Tumwater territory and was followed a few minutes later by a dangerous cross from freshman midfielder Zippy Valentine to senior forward Valerie Echeverria that just missed the mark.
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Elma freshman midfielder Zippy Valentine (0) plays the ball against Tumwater’s Reese Heryford during the Eagles’ 11-1 loss on Tuesday at Elma High School.
In the second half, Elma earned a free kick just outside the 18-yard box that required a fingertip save by the Tumwater keeper to hold Elma at one goal.
Coach Valentine said Tumwater made his players pay for any mistakes.
“One little bad touch, one little mistake and boom, they are on you,” he said. “They are all fast, they are all athletic and that’s good. It teaches you that you have to do everything right. … I’m happy that we were able to create our moments.”
Elma has another tough game when it plays at perennial state-playoff qualifier Bear Creek at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday.
Tumwater 6 5 – 11
Elma 1 0 – 1
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Aberdeen 6, Foster 0
Aberdeen’s Scotlyn Lecomte had a natural hat trick in the first half as the Bobcats cruised past Foster 6-0 on Tuesday at Foster High School.
Aberdeen (2-2-1) got on the board early and often as Lecomte – a senior midfielder – scored goals in the ninth, 15th and 18th minutes to put the Bobcats up 3-0.
In the 25th minute, Aberdeen reserve Bella Luna entered the game and immediately weaved her way 50 yards through the Foster defense and beat the keeper 1-on-1 for a goal in the 25th minute.
Aberdeen senior forward Abby Mainio scored on a rebound of a Lila Ericksen shot for a 5-0 lead in the 28th minute.
Mainio scored on a long shot in the 56th minute to cap Aberdeen 6-0 victory.
“The girls passed the ball accurately and communicated well,” said Aberdeen head coach Larry Fleming.
Anni Devine and Ericksen shared the goal tending duties to earn the shutout.
Aberdeen hosts Rochester at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Stewart Field.
Aberdeen 5 1 – 6
Foster 0 0 – 0
Scoring
First half – 1, Aberdeen, Lecomte, 9th minute. 1, Aberdeen, Lecomte, 15th minute. 3, Aberdeen, Lecomte, 18th minute. 4, Aberdeen, Luna, 25th minute. 5, Aberdeen, Mainio, 28th minute.
Second half – 6, Aberdeen, Mainio, 56th minute.
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Other scores
Montesano 2, Centralia 1
Black Hills 8, Hoquiam 0
