Elma senior forward Beta Valentine made history on Tuesday, scoring three goals to become the school’s all-time leading scorer in the Eagles’ 3-1 win over Columbia (White Salmon) in a 1A District 4 Tournament game in Elma.
Elma (10-5-2 overall) got on the board early in the game as three of its standout seniors combined on what turned out to be a history-making goal.
Elma midfielder Mia Monroe sent a long cross into the 18-yard box that was collected by winger Valerie Echeverria, who centered the ball to Valentine for a goal in the 10th minute.
It was the 105th goal of Valentine’s prep career, breaking a tie with former Eagles standout boys soccer player Russell Jones.
Elma wasn’t done as another one of its senior stars in midfielder Miley Seaberg earned an assist with a pass to Valentine at the top of the box. Valentine pivoted and slotted the ball into the top corner for a 2-0 lead in the 26th minute.
PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Elma midfielder Miley Seaberg (left) dribbles against Columbia (White Salmon) midfielder Anya Romero during the Eagles’ 3-1 district-tournament victory on Tuesday in Elma.
In the second half, the Eagles would go up 3-0 when Seaberg collected a Monroe throw-in and sent a hard cross that deflected off the foot of a Bruins defender right to Valentine, who scored on a left-footed shot in the 41st minute.
CWS (8-8) would score at approximately the 60th minute off a ball that was poked in off a low free kick that took an odd bounce to round out the scoring.
“I thought in the first half we did a really good job. We were calm, solid and controlled the middle. We played a well-rounded game all the way through,” Elma head coach Evan Valentine said. “In the second half, (CWS) just kind of threw everything forward. They were pressing hard and credit to White Salmon, they made us scramble.”
Elma advances to the district semifinals with a win earning the Eagles a berth in the state tournament.
Elma will have a tough test against second-ranked Seton Catholic (17-0), which defeated Tenino 7-2 in its first-round district matchup.
“I’m just looking for the seniors to step up and play with heart and determination, whatever the game plan is,” Coach Valentine said. “If we do that, we can hang with anybody. We’ve got to believe, which has been a theme of the team this season.”
The two teams face off at 7 p.m. Thursday at Seton Catholic High School in Vancouver.
Columbia (White Salmon) 0 1 – 1
Elma 2 1 – 3
Scoring
First half – 1, Elma, Valentine (Echeverria), 10th minute. 2, Elma, Valentine (Seaberg), 26th minute.
Second half – 3, Elma, Valentine (Seaberg), 41st minute. 4, Columbia (White Salmon), 60th minute.
PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Elma midfielder Zippy Valentine (0) competes for possession against Columbia (White Salmon) players Kiera Bucher (left) and Willow Cohen during a 1A District 4 Tournament game on Tuesday at Davis Field in Elma.
