Elma shutout an improved Hoquiam team while Aberdeen is one step closer to securing a playoff berth as we review Thursday’s girls prep soccer games on the Harbor.

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GIRLS PREP SOCCER

Elma 4, Hoquiam 0

Elma kept pace with league-leading Montesano with a 4-0 shutout over Hoquiam on Thursday at Davis Field in Elma.

The Eagles (7-5-3 overall, 6-1 1A Evergreen) took control of the game early, scoring three goals in the first 10 minutes against the Grizzlies (3-12, 0-7).

Elma senior midfielder Valerie Echeverria moved the ball down the sideline before sending a pass to senior forward Beta Valentine, who scored to put Elma up 1-0 just three minutes into the match.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Elma senior forward Beta Valentine scored two goals to bring her career total to 104 in a 4-0 win over Hoquiam on Thursday in Elma.

In the sixth minute, Valentine took a hard shot that was blocked by Hoquiam goal keeper Emily Brodhead, but Echeverria was there to put the rebound in the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.

Four minutes later, freshman midfielder Zippy Valentine sent a pass across the top of the 18-yard box to senior midfielder Nency Guzman, who scored on a perfectly-placed shot from distance for a three-goal lead.

Elma would have its chances to extend the lead throughout the remainder of the first half, but Brodhead continued to make key saves to keep the score at 3-0 entering halftime.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Elma midfielder Nency Guzman (10) scored a goal in a 4-0 win over Hoquiam on Thursday at Elma High School.

Elma got its fourth goal shortly after the break when senior midfielder Mia Monroe drove to the post and laid a ball across to Beta Valentine, who scored just four minutes into the second half.

The goal held a bit of school history behind hit as it was Beta Valentine’s 104th goal of her prep career, unofficially tying her with the school’s all-time leader in boys soccer player Russell Jones.

Elma head coach Evan Valentine said he would’ve liked to see more chances converted against Brodhead and the Grizzlies defense after scoring 12 goals against Hoquiam back on Oct. 8.

“I kind of wish we would’ve tightened up some things and finished off some stuff, but there is always that kind of stuff. I’m a coach and I’m supposed to be critical,” Coach Valentine said. “Kudos to Hoquiam. They made it tough. … I want to give a shout out to (Brodhead), She made some phenomenal saves with all-out extensions. She had a really great game.”

Brodhead had 19 saves for Hoquiam to keep the score where it was and prevent the game from getting too far out of hand.

RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Hoquiam goal keeper Emily Brodhead made 19 saves in a 4-0 loss to Elma on Thursday at Davis Field in Elma.

“To be honest, I was not happy with our play the first 20 minutes of the game,” Hoquiam head coach Corri Schmid said of her team allowing three early goals. “You could kind of hear me hollering on the sidelines a little bit. I was really proud of them being able to snap out of the funk on their own. … At halftime, I had a talk with them and said, ‘You’re better than this. You need to give a full 40 minutes. Let’s go.’ Obviously, in the second half (Elma) only scored the one goal and that made me much more happy as a coach.”

The Grizzlies allowed just one goal over the final 70 minutes of the game to the high-scoring Eagles.

“I’m proud of them for stepping it up,” Schimd said. “We have slowly improved over the season and it’s been nice to watch.”

Hoquiam wraps up its season against Rochester at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at Olympic Stadium.

Elma has a first-place showdown against Montesano in the regular-season finale at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Davis Field in Elma.

Hoquiam 0 0 – 0

Elma 3 1 – 4

Scoring

First half – 1, Elma, B. Valentine (Echeverria), 3rd minute. 2, Elma, Echeverria (B. Valentine), 6th minute. 3, Elma, Guzman (Z. Valentine), 10th minute.

Second half – 4, Elma, B. Valentine (M. Monroe), 44th minute.

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Aberdeen 3, Shelton 0

Aberdeen took a big step toward securing a postseason berth with a 3-0 win over Shelton on Senior Night at Stewart Field in Aberdeen.

The Bobcats (6-8-2, 3-6 2A Evergreen) were led by all-league candidate Scotlyn Lecomte, who scored all three goals for a hat trick.

Applying pressure to the Highclimbers defense the entire game, Aberdeen got on the scoreboard when Lecomte received a feed from freshman midfielder Kennedy Kolodzie and scored on a low shot from 25 yards out in the 12the minute.

In the second half, Aberdeen continued to pressure Shelton (2-12, 0-9) and doubled its lead when midfielder Miley Anderson dropped a ball back to senior forward Abby Mainio, who chipped the ball over the Shelton defense to Lecomte. The Cats’ senior forward delivered what head coach Larry Fleming dubbed “a clinical finish” from inside the box for a 2-0 lead 29 minutes into the second half.

Lecomte then intercepted a Highclimber goal kick and blasted a shot over the keeper’s head from 30 yards out for the hat trick in the 73rd minute.

“The girls high pressed as a complete unit and forced them into turnovers that resulted in wave after wave of attacks at their net,” Fleming said. “Much better soccer and result than the first match.”

Aberdeen recognized seniors Lecomte, Mainio and Delaney Shoemaker on Senior Night.

Aberdeen’s JV team lost 3-0 to Shelton JV. Junior varsity seniors Alex Jimenez, Cheylee Placencia and Blanca Jaime played their final game for the Bobcats.

The Bobcats can earn a spot in the district play-in game with a victory over Black Hills at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Black Hills High School.

Shelton 0 0 – 0

Aberdeen 1 2 – 3

Scoring

First half – 1, Aberdeen, Lecomte (Kolodzie), 12th minute.

Second half – 2, Aberdeen, Lecomte (Mainio), 69th minute. 3, Aberdeen, Lecomte, 73rd minute.