Tacoma Community College controlled the pace of play to come away with a 5-0 win over Grays Harbor College in an NWAC West Division women’s soccer match at Stewart Field on Saturday.
The Chokers (1-3-1) played even with the Titans through the first 20 minutes before a trio of Grays Harbor mistakes opened the door for Tacoma to take the lead for good. GHC struggled to put together an offensive attack in the second half, failing to put another shot on goal until the 85th minute.
“I think we are making progress,” GHC coach Chris Schumacher said. “We are closing the gap from last year’s games to this year’s games, but it is still not enough. We are going to go back Monday and we are going to hit the drawing board.”
Tacoma’s Raven Wolfe broke the scoreless tie and rolled in what would be the game-winning goal in the 20th minute. GHC goalkeeper Emily Bjornsgard sprinted out of goal to grab a loose ball around 15 yards out, but Wolfe beat Bjornsgard to the ball and was past her in one touch to fire into an open net and give the Titans the lead for good.
The game’s second goal came just under 20 minutes later. Tacoma’s Karen Orelana had beat a GHC defender and turned toward the goal when the defender made contact and Orelana went to the turf causing a penalty kick for Tacoma. Jolene Kvinsland stepped up to take the kick and buried the ball in the right side to make it 2-0.
Tacoma added another goal two minutes later when Orelana made a run again and was able to find room to split the Choker defense in the middle and send a shot home from 12 yards out to put the Titans up 3-0 at halftime.
“In the first half, basically the three goals were our mistakes that were made,” Schumacher said. “Emily, being a freshman, needs to know when to command the box and when to come out… then a PK in the box on an unnecessary foul and then the last goal was because we left that middle open and they played the seem. It could have been 0-0.”
Schumacher attributed some of the mistakes made by GHC on Saturday to growing pains as the Chokers try to switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation. Schumacher said the team continues to struggle to trust that the formation will work, but he feels confident the players will make the change pay off in the long run.
Tacoma’s Anna Gentile added another goal in the 60th minute on a shot from 12 yards out, before Kvinsland scored the games final goal on a free kick, which squirted past GHC goalkeeper Moani Kupahu in the 70th minute.
Schumacher cited Maggie Cervantes for her defensive performance and Mary Davis for her work offensively.
GHC travels to Green River on Wednesday.
