In what is becoming an all-too familiar situation at the beginning of the school week, several local teams were affected by the latest round of school COVID-19 testing and reporting on Monday.
Three Harbor-area teams — Elma, Hoquiam and Montesano — each had their previously scheduled game cancelled and in the case of Elma and Montesano, had to scramble on Monday to find replacement opponents.
Elma and Hoquiam were scheduled to face off in a 1A Evergreen League showdown this coming weekend, but Hoquiam cancelled, forcing Elma to find another opponent.
Luckily for the Eagles, Elma was able to secure a game against the Mt. Baker Mountaineers for a 4 p.m. kickoff on Saturday in Elma.
The cancellation for Hoquiam represents the third straight weekend the Grizzlies will not be playing a football game, equating to one-third of the season.
According to Hoquiam head coach Jeremy McMillan, the Grizzlies have been unable to practice since Sept. 15 and hope to return to in-person practice on Saturday.
Montesano’s previously scheduled game against La Center was cancelled on Monday, forcing the Bulldogs to find a new opponent.
On Monday evening, the Bulldogs coaching staff confirmed they secured a game against Napavine at 7 p.m. on Friday in Montesano.
As for other Twin Harbors schools, the game between Aberdeen and Black Hills is still set for a 7 p.m. Friday kickoff at Stewart Field and Pe Ell-Willapa Valley, Raymond-South Bend and North Beach’s scheduled games were not affected by COVID cancellations.
For more information on this week’s upcoming prep football games, check out our Week 5 Prep Football Preview online and in print on Thursday.
GIRLS PREP SOCCER
Ocosta 2, Forks 1
Forks came close to defeating Ocosta for the first time in program history, but a late goal from the Wildcats gave Ocosta a 2-1 lead on Monday in Westport.
Ocosta (4-3 overall, 1-0 2B Pacific) opened the scoring when Miki Ness took a pass from Brizeyda Ayala Rios and scored in the 32nd minute.
Forks (0-3, 0-1) responded late in the first half on a long shot from 30 yards out to tie the game at 1-1.
In the second half, both defenses stiffened up, relegating the opposing offenses to limited scoring chances.
With time winding down, Ness made the play of the game. The junior forward showed why she is the reigning 2B Pacific League Offensive MVP when she blocked a clearing attempt by the Forks keeper back into the Spartans net for what turned out to be the game-winning goal with just three minutes remaining in the match.
“This was far and away the best Forks team we’ve ever played,” Ocosta coach Mike King said of the victory. “We came out flat, bunched up repeatedly, and connected on only 45% of our passes. We were fortunate to get the win.”
King cited senior sweeper Trinity White for her defensive efforts in the Senior Night game.
Ocosta plays at Adna at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
Forks 1 0 — 1
Ocosta 1 1 — 2
Other scores
Adna 5, Raymond-South Bend 0
