UPDATE: Added information for Thursday’s boys prep golf matches.

The Elma Eagles girls soccer team got a big game from one of its talented midfielders in a shutout victory over Centralia as we look at Thursday’s prep sports action involving Twin Harbors high school teams.

GIRLS PREP SOCCER

Elma 5, Centralia 0

Elma got a breakout game from junior Valerie Echeverria in blanking Centralia 5-0 on Thursday at Davis Field in Elma.

The Eagles (2-0 overall), wasted little time getting their offense going, taking a 1-0 lead when Echeverria scored on a through ball from senior midfielder Eliza Sibbett just 35 seconds into the game.

Five minutes later, Echeverria took the ball and sprinted around the Centralia defense, sending a cross toward high-scoring junior forward Beta Valentine, who pulled the ball back and sent a shot into the roof of the net for a 2-0 advantage.

Elma made it 3-0 when senior midfielder Aaleigha Weld sent a free kick from 45-yards out over the Tigers defense. Echeverria outran Centralia defenders to the ball, sliding the ball past the Tigers keeper for a goal in the 12th minute.

In the 20th minute, Echeverria ripped a hard shot on frame that was blocked out to Valentine, who put the rebound into the net for a 4-0 lead the Eagles would take into halftime.

Echeverria and Valentine hooked up again in the 65th minute when Valentine held possession near the corner flag then drove a cross toward the front of the Tigers net. Echeverria tapped in the feed for the 5-0 lead.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Elma forward Beta Valentine, left, maneuvers through the Centralia defense during a 5-0 win over the Tigers on Thursday at Davis Field in Elma.

After playing well in a season-opening win over Adna on Tuesday but feeling like his team let some scoring chances slip by, Elma head coach Evan Valentine was pleased to see his offense make the adjustments on Thursday.

“Our conversion rate this game was really good,” he said, before beaming about Echeverria’s performance. “This was kind of the game I’ve been wanting to see from Valerie. She had a breakout game. She was on point and just ready to go. … She had three goals and two assists, that’s a phenomenal night.”

Next up for Elma in a busy first week is a game at the Montesano Showcase where the Eagles will take on 2A Archbishop Murphy at 2 p.m. Saturday at Jack Rottle Field in Montesano.

Centralia 0 0 – 0

Elma 4 1 – 5

Scoring

First half: 1, Elma, Echeverria (Sibbett), 1st minute. 2, Elma, Valentine (Echeverria), 6th minute. 3, Elma, Echeverria (Weld), 12th minute. 4, Elma, Valentine (Echeverria), 20th minute.

Second half: 5, Elma, Echeverria (Valentine), 65th minute.

Montesano 4, King’s Way Christian 1

Montesano picked up an impressive road victory on Thursday, defeating King’s Way Christian 4-1 in Vancouver.

Monte (2-0-1) got the scoring started in the 23rd minute when First Team all-state senior forward Mikayla Stanfield scored off an assist from freshman forward Jaelyn Butterfield.

Junior forward Adda Potts doubled Monte’s lead with an unassisted goal in the 50th minute followed by her second goal of the game for a 3-0 lead in the 69th minute.

After the Knights (0-1) scored a goal in the 72nd minute, Butterfield closes out the scoring with a goal in the 80th minute.

“We were preparing for a really tough match because last year (KWC) was young,” Monte head coach Fidel Sanchez said. “We were preparing for a battle in the midfield and we told the girls to be ready for that. … It was one of those game where we had to be patient, stay the course and we did that.”

Next up for Montesano is a key non-league matchup against Seattle Academy, which defeated the Bulldogs in last season’s state third-place game.

“The big emphasis this year was to find championship opponents,” Sanchez said. “We have some juggernauts (on the schedule), which is good because we’ll know what we’re made of. It doesn’t do any good to go 16-0 against teams that are up and coming.”

First whistle is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday at Jack Rottle Field in Montesano.

PREP VOLLEYBALL

Aberdeen 3, Tenino 2

Aberdeen battled through a hard-fought five sets to emerge victorious over Tenino on Thursday at Sam Benn Gym in Aberdeen.

It was apparent late in the first game that the Bobcats and Beavers were in for a grudge match. Aberdeen (2-0) fell behind 23-19 but rallied for a 26-24 win.

The second set also needed extra points to decide, with Tenino (1-1) taking another competitive set 28-26.

Aberdeen dominated the third set 25-12 with Tenino rebounding for a 25-20 victory in the fourth set, setting up a winner-take-all fifth and final set.

The Bobcats held on for a 15-13 win in the fifth set for a well-earned victory.

“Tonight’s match was very exciting it tested our perseverance and our fight,” Aberdeen head coach Desiree Glanz said.

Senior Annika Hollingsworth led the Cats with 20 kills while Lilly Camp and Savannah Strickland added 13 each for Aberdeen.

Bobcats junior defensive specialist Zoe Vessey had 13 digs and went 15-for-17 from the service line to earn accolades from her head coach.

“(Vessey had) consistent serves, solid serve-receive and played very impressive defense all night,” Glanz said.

Freshman Libero Sophie Knutson had 12 digs and went 15-of-15 from the service line with two aces for the Cats.

Aberdeen will compete at a tournament in Centralia on Thursday.

Tenino 24 28 12 25 13 – 2

Aberdeen 26 26 25 20 15 – 3

Forks 3, Hoquiam 2

After winning the first two set, Hoquiam struggled to slow a Forks surge in suffering a 3-2 loss on Thursday at Forks High School.

The Grizzlies (2-1) took the first set 24-16 and appeared to be well on their way to a straight-set victory after winning the second set handily 25-12.

But the Spartans (1-0) found their game and Hoquiam couldn’t stop it as Forks won the final three games by scores of 25-23, 25-20 and 15-11.

Lexi LaBounty (30 digs, 26-27 service, 6 aces), Avery Templer (26-26 service), Faith Prosch (23 digs), Leighann Bratt (21 digs, 7 kills), Kristina Goulet (11 kills, 16 digs, 4 blocks) and Katyln Brodhead (13 digs, 22 assists) each made significant contributions to the Hoquiam effort in the loss.

“This was a great match for us to learn from, which I know this team will,” Hoquiam head coach Heather Bozich said. “We’re going to take this and use it for fuel to get better. They had moments of incredible play and moments of nervous play, but I have complete faith that they’ll come out stronger because of this.”

Hoquiam 24 25 23 20 11 – 2

Forks 16 12 25 25 15 – 3

Rainier 3, Raymond-South Bend 1

Raymond-South Bend struggled against a tall Rainier team in a 3-1 loss on Thursday in Rainier.

The Ravens (1-1) fell behind 2-0 after losing the first two sets but rallied for a 27-25 victory in the third.

RSB kept the game close in the fourth set but eventually fell 25-23.

The Ravens were led by Berklee Morley (18 assists, 5 aces), Emily Howell (7 kills) and Ava Baugher (7 kills).

“We did some good things. Rainier has tall hitters and they were a wall we couldn’t get past at times,” Ravens head coach Julie Jewell said. “We made an adjustment in games three and four that worked in our favor. Our communication wasn’t great tonight and it really impacted serve receive. I’m looking forward to the tournament to help with communication and chemistry.”

Raymond-South Bend will compete at the Centralia tournament on Saturday.

RSB 18 12 27 23 – 1

Rainier 25 25 25 25 – 3

Other scores

North Beach 3, Lake Quinault 0 (Wednesday)

King’s Way Christian 3, Montesano 0

BOYS PREP GOLF

Elma 181, Hoquiam 225

Four golfers shot sub-50 scores to lead the Elma Eagles to a 181-225 win over Hoquiam in a season-opening match on Thursday at Highland Golf Course in Cosmopolis.

Eagle Robby Santos and Cason Seaberg shot the lowest 9-hole rounds of the day with a 42 and 43, respectively, and were joined by Kohan Morrison (47) and Brody Palmer (49) on the Elma scoreboard.

“The boys had a few nerves going into the first match of the season. That seemed to play with their mentality some and knocked them a bit off rhythm a few times,” new Elma head coach Collin McMaster said. “They settled down as the match progressed and really put together a quality league win to start the season.”

Hoquiam was led by Riley Montoure, who shot a 45 to open the season.

“Some first match of the year jitters got to the Grizzlies as we struggled to match our scoring from the previous week,” Hoquiam head coach Terry Helland said.

Elma (181) – Robby Santos 42, Cason Seaberg 43, Kohan Morrison 47, Brody Palmer 49.

Hoquiam (225) – Riley Montoure 45, Oliver Costales 50, Kai Villarreal 63, Tommy Catron 67.

Tenino 190, Montesano 197

Montesano opened its 2023 season with a 190-197 loss to Tenino on Thursday at Tahoma Valley Golf Course in Yelm.

Montesano was led by Ayden Sauer and Colton Grubb, who shot 46 and 48, respectively, for their 9-hole rounds.

Tenino (190) – David Dallaire 41, Jaxson Gore 48, Preston Snider 49, Carson Hart 52 (tie), Ethan Baxter 52 (tie).

Montesano (197) – Ayden Sauer 46, Colton Grubb 48, Gavin Root 50, Jovanni Guarisco 53.

GIRLS PREP SWIMMING

Aberdeen places second at league-opening meet

With lots of new faces after graduating several seniors from last season’s district-championship team, the Aberdeen Bobcats placed second at a season-opening relay swim meet on Thursday at the Grays Harbor YMCA in Hoquiam.

Aberdeen placed second with 88 points behind Shelton (92), led by a victorious 400-yard medley team of Mija Hood, Wendy Neil, Ava Benn and Keara Burns.

The quartet finished with a time of 4:59.56, defeating Shelton (5:03.23) by nearly four full seconds.

The Aberdeen duo of Brinnley Colburn and Saylor Heikkila won the 1-meter dive competition with a score of 118.45 to beat Tumwater by 7.3 points.

Aberdeen’s 800 freestyle relay team of Arianna Alavez, Heikkila, Jenna Kalar and Mily Johnston placed second (11:09.84) as did the 850 freestyle team of Colburn, Willow Valentine, Benn and Hood (11:04.56).