Elma and Ocosta were in action this weekend as we take a look at the girls prep soccer action on the Harbor.
GIRLS PREP SOCCER
Archbishop Murphy 1, Elma 0
Elma dealt with plenty of issues in a 1-0 loss to Archbishop Murphy at the Montesano Showcase on Saturday in Montesano.
Playing their third game in a week and dealing with the 85-degree heat, the Eagles (2-1 overall) were further hampered by an ankle injury to senior midfielder Eliza Sibbett, who is often the catalyst for the Eagles high-powered offensive attack.
Sibbett rolled her ankle on Thursday against Centralia and played in the first half, but Elma head coach Evan Valentine had her sit out the second half as a precautionary measure.
Without Sibbett locking down the midfield, Elma had trouble kick-starting its offense in the second half.
“It creates a domino effect, for sure,” Coach Valentine said of Sibbett’s absence on the pitch and how he had to shift players into positions they normally don’t play in hopes of finding some consistent offense.
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Elma senior midfielder Eliza Sibbett (11) sends the ball forward during a 1-0 loss to Archbishop Murphy at the Montesano Showcase on Saturday in Montesano. Sibbett did not play in the second half due to a nagging ankle injury but is expected to return to the pitch this week.
The Eagles looked out of sync early, missing passes and their trademark through-ball connections as well as being poor on their first touch, according to Coach Valentine.
“When your mind gets tired, your body gets tired,” he said. “I wanted to see my team be mentally sharper and more acute and find a way to overcome everything.”
While its offense may have been misfiring, the defense bent, but rarely broke, thanks in large part to the play of all-state keeper Emmie Spencer.
The Wildcats (3-0) scored the only goal of the game on an angled shot inside the penalty area in the eighth minute from forward Kylie Hendry.
In the 35th minute, Spencer made a leaping two-handed grab of a dangerous cross.
In the 68th minute, Spencer reached high into the air to deflect a threatening corner kick then stopped a shot a out in front of the goal line to keep the score at 1-0.
Valentine said his defense played well and helped keep the field clean in front of Spencer.
“I don’t really think (Archbishop Murphy) had a lot of good opportunities,” he said. “That’s kind of our strategy, we give them shots that we know Emmie can save. When she is sharp she is as good as it gets.”
Though his team faced its share of setbacks, Valentine said his players have to do a better job of dealing with the obstacles.
“It’s hot, it’s the third game of the week and we’re exhausted mentally and physically, but that’s the kind of game you have to get up for and get prepared for,” he said. “We’re going to have games like this in the future. There’s always something to overcome in soccer.”
Elma will take on Aberdeen at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Stewart Field in Aberdeen.
Archbishop Murphy 1 0 – 0
Elma 0 0 – 0
Scoring
First half – 1, Archbishop Murphy, Hendry, 8th minute.
Second half – none.
Goldendale 4, Ocosta 2
Ocosta outshot Goldendale but with little results as the Wildcats fell 4-2 on Saturday in Goldendale.
Dealing with temperature above 90 degrees and with just two bench players available for substitution, the Wildcats (2-1) managed to outshoot Goldendale (2-1) 30-17.
But it was the Timberwolves that made its shots count, scoring goals in the 29th and 31st minutes to take a 2-0 lead into halftime and in the 43rd and 52nd minutes to go up 4-0.
Ocosta’s Kylee Denny scored off an assist from Penny Park followed by a Brizeyda Ayala Rios goal from a feed by Bristol Towle.
“I give a lot of credit to our players for not giving up and fighting back. We dominated in shots and possession, but Goldendale took advantage of defensive lapses,” Ocosta head coach Mike King said. “We’ll work on a couple items on Monday. These last two games should prepare us for our league games.”
King credited Scarlett Nelson, Joanah Rosander and Kennedy Reynolds for their all around play.
Ocosta takes on Hoquiam at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at Olympic Stadium.
Ocosta 0 2 – 2
Goldendale 2 2 – 2
