Boys Prep Soccer Roundup: Aberdeen, Elma, Hoquiam boys soccer teams pick up league wins

Bobcats beat Shelton; Eagles edge Tenino; Grizzlies blank Chief Leschi

Aberdeen, Elma and Hoquiam’s boys soccer teams each picked up league victories on Tuesday.

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BOYS PREP SOCCER

Aberdeen 4, Shelton 2

Aberdeen bounced back from an early mistake en route to a 4-2 league victory over Shelton on Tuesday in Shelton.

The Bobcats (5-2 overall, 2-1 2A Evergreen) fell behind in the opening minute of the game as a defensive breakdown led to a free run down the sideline. The Highclimbers (2-4-1, 0-3) eventually scored off a shot from just five yards away to take an early 1-0 lead.

Aberdeen wasted little time in netting the equalizer, tying the game at 1-all when junior defender Ryker Scott sent a ball toward senior striker Marc Avila, who flicked a feed forward to Elmer Torres.

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The senior forward headed the ball past a Shelton defender the dribbled past the goal keeper to tie the game in the third minute.

The Bobcats took the lead just seven minutes later a corner kick from junior midfielder Tyson Dunlap was cleared to Scott, who sent a cross to Avila, who headed into the top right side of the net for a 2-1 lead.

The Cats took the first two-goal lead of the game when sophomore defender Ricky Granados – playing in his first game back from a lengthy injury – sent a long free kick to the head of sophomore Gibran Garcia, who headed it into the net for a 3-1 lead.

Shelton responded with 20-yard shot off a corner kick to trim Aberdeen’s lead to 3-2.

But the Bobcats had the last word when Torres was fouled just out side of the Shelton 18-yard box.

Granados took the free kick and placed it past the diving Shelton goal keeper for a 4-2 advantage with 15 minutes left to play, securing the victory.

“We were outstanding for the most part,” Aberdeen head coach Larry Fleming said. “Besides a couple lapses in focus that cost us goals on both sides of the field, we were organized on defense and consistently found the open man in the passing game.”

Fleming commended the play of senior defender Angel Espinosa and Javier Lagunas, along with Scott and Edgar Ceja on the back line. As well as stating Cristhian Lopez and Garcia “set a physical tone at midfield as well.”

The Bobcats JV team lost 2-1 on Tuesday.

Gerardo Servellon scored a goal for the Aberdeen JV squad while Luis Campos and Evan Sanchez were commended for their play in the loss.

Aberdeen has some time off for Spring Break and won’t play again until a matchup with league-foe Tumwater at 7 p.m. on April 15 at Stewart Field in Aberdeen.

Aberdeen 2 2 – 4

Shelton 1 1 – 2

Scoring

First half – 1, Shelton, 1st minute. 2, Aberdeen, E. Torres (Avila), 3rd minute. 3, Aberdeen, Avila (Scott), 10th minute.

Second half – 4, Aberdeen, G. Garcia (Granados). 5, Shelton, 54th minute. 6, Aberdeen, Granados, 65th minute.

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Hoquiam 4, Chief Leschi 0

After starting the season with four straight losses, Hoquiam has won two games in as many days with a 4-0 victory over Chief Leschi on Tuesday at Hoquiam Middle School.

Playing with a mix of varsity and junior varsity players, the Grizzlies (2-4, 2-3 1A Evergreen) got goals in the first half from sophomore midfielders J.B. Fabian and Michael Garcia to take a 2-0 lead into halftime.

Goals by freshman defender Zeke James and Bryce Molina secure the Grizzlies victory.

“There was focus on passing, communicating and enjoying the game of soccer,” Hoquiam head coach Corri Schmid said of the win.

Hoquiam takes on Forks at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Forks High School.

Chief Leschi 0 0 – 0

Hoquiam 2 2 – 4

Scoring

First half – 1, Hoquiam, Fabian, 3rd minute. 2, Hoquiam, M. Garcia, 7th minute.

Second half – 3, Hoquiam, Z. James, 60th minute. 4, Hoquiam, B. Molina, 70th minute.

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Elma 1, Tenino 0

One goal early in the second half turned out to be enough as Elma left Tenino with a 1-0 win on Tuesday.

The Eagles (3-2, 3-2 1A Evergreen) and Beavers (1-5, 1-4) were locked in a scoreless tie throughout the first half despite Elma controlling the pitch and having the upper hand in scoring opportunities.

It wasn’t until the 47th minute that the Eagles cracked the goose egg.

Elma sophomore midfielder Ivan Rodriguez beat a man down the sideline and sent a cross to sophomore forward Luis Torres, who pulled the ball across the face of the goal and took a shot.

The ball rebounded out to freshman defender Jordan Kain on the backside, who simply tapped the ball into the net for the game’s only goal.

Aside from a couple long throw-ins and set pieces off Elma fouls, Tenino was unable to generate much offense against the Eagles.

Elma sophomore goal keeper Trey Yeager recorded the shutout, his second of the season.

“We’re moving the ball, maintaining possession and things are going well for us, we’re just aren’t quite finding the back of the net on a consistent basis right now,” Elma head coach Carson Seaberg said. “We’re putting in some good work. … We’re seeing shots, we’re seeing things being created, we’re just not finishing at the level we are probably capable off. But it’s nice to get another shutout.”

Elma faces Chief Leschi at 6 p.m. on Thursday in Puyallup.

Elma 0 1 – 1

Tenino 0 0 – 0

Scoring

First half – none.

Second half – 1, Elma, Kain, 47th minute.