CORRECTION: A previous version of this article contained the incorrect amount of goals for Ocosta’s Bristol Towle. She scored six goals for the Wildcats.
Aberdeen and Ocosta girls soccer teams opened its respective seasons as we take a look at Wednesday’s games on the Harbor.
Hockinson 2, Aberdeen 0
With a host of new faces and players in new positions, Aberdeen found it tough to get going in a 2-0 loss to Hockinson in the Bobcats’ season-opener on Wednesday in Aberdeen.
Hockinson was able to hold most of the possession in the first half and had multiple shots on-goal.
But Aberdeen goal keeper Jaylynn Phimmasone – who moved into the position this season after playing significant time at midfield last year – made four saves in the first 25 minutes of the game to keep it scoreless.
Aberdeen nearly broke through with the game’s first goal on arguably its best chance of the first half when senior forward Annie Troeh outran the Hawks defense to a through ball near the goal in the 24th minute, but Hockinson keeper Ashley Suva snuffed out the play before Troeh could tap it into the back of the net.
RYAN SPARKS / THE DAILY WORLD Aberdeen forward Annie Troeh, right, collapses on the ball against Hockinson defender Lila Erickson during a 2-0 loss on Wednesday at Stewart Field in Aberdeen.
Five minutes later, Hawks midfielder Anneka Vossler beat a leaping Phimmasone with a well-placed shot to the top near corner from just outside the 18-yard box for a 1-0 lead.
Hockinson scored again in the second half while Aberdeen was held scoreless as the Bobcats are still working themselves into form.
“We were able to get some great shots on goal, but for the most part were chasing and having trouble putting any passing combinations together. Most of it was our poor first touch and not communicating effectively,” Aberdeen head coach Larry Fleming said. “We looked about how I expected with a lot of new players and more than half the roster getting their first real varsity minutes against a pretty good opponent in the Hawks. We will work on some things and try to play better on Tuesday.”
Aberdeen will have another tough test when it faces Elma at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Aberdeen.
Hockinson 1 1 – 2
Aberdeen 0 0 – 0
Ocosta 8, Ilwaco 0
Ocosta got its season off to a good start with an 8-0 rout over Ilwaco in a non-league game on Wednesday in Ilwaco.
The Wildcats (1-0) got a goal just one minute into the game when Gabby Ness intercepted a pass and sent a cross to eighth grader Bristol Towle, who lined a shot into the net for a 1-0 lead.
Towle scored three more times in the first half on assists from Kylee Denny, Scarlett Nelson and an unassisted goal. Denny scored on an assist from Towle for a 5-0 lead at halftime.
In the second half, Towle scored off a Denny assist then added a goal off a steal for six goals in her varsity debut. Ness scored on an assist from Towle to close out the scoring at 8-0.
Ocosta sophomore goalie Amelia Saunders combined with eighth grader Hollys Baldwin to earn the shutout, with Baldwin thwarting a breakaway attempt in the final minute of the game.
“We’ve been working on passing and communication at practice and the girls executed our game plan,” Ocosta head coach Mike King said. “We were able to mix up positioning in the second half and worked hard throughout the game. Neither team had a sub, so everyone had to grind it out. We’ll get two more players for this weekend’s road trip.”
Ocosta takes on Mabton at 5 p.m. Friday at Mabton Jr./Sr. High School.
Ocosta 5 3 – 8
RYAN SPARKS / THE DAILY WORLD Aberdeen junior Scotlyn Lecomte, right, competes with Hockinson’s Bridget Brennan for possession during the Bobcats’ 2-0 loss in a season-opening game on Wednesday in Aberdeen.
