Montesano came up just short against Life Christian as we review recent prep sports action on the Twin Harbors.

BOYS PREP SOCCER

Life Christian 1, Montesano 0

A late goal broke a scoreless tie as Montesano fell to Life Christian 1-0 on Thursday in Montesano.

The Bulldogs (1-2 overall) were locked in a defensive battle against the Eagles (2-1) throughout the majority of the match, with Life Christian getting the better opportunities in the first half and Monte making adjustments to gain the advantage in the second half.

“It was a very defensive-minded game from both sides,” Monte head coach Fidel Sanchez said. “Very tough teams to break down defensively. It was kind of like a chess match back-and-forth all night.”

Monte had three dangerous scoring chances in the game, including midfielder Jio Torres coming up short on a play in front of the Eagles’ goal in the first half and midfielder Cristofer Tobar getting loose for a shot that was kick-saved by the Life Christian keeper in the second half.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano’s Felix Romero (15) retains possession during a 1-0 loss to Life Christian on Thursday at Montesano High School.

With less than five minutes left, a clearance from the Eagles keeper bounced through to an Eagles midfielder, who then sent a through pass to a striking forward, who got behind the Monte defense and put a shot into the net in the 75th minute.

“It was a good game against a quality state opponent,” said Sanchez, who added the play of Montesano senior midfielder Levi Clements helped to turn the tide of the game after halftime. “(Life Christian) had a really good midfielder that created a lot of havoc for us. Levi started on the wing and then we moved him to the middle of the field and he pretty much shut him down the rest of the night and they couldn’t get anything moving forward. … We were able to win the midfield then and we started going forward with that.”

Montesano faces Hoquiam at 6 p.m. on Monday at Sea Breeze Oval.

Life Christian 0 1 – 1

Montesano 0 0 – 0

Scoring

First half – none.

Second half – 1, Life Christian, 75th minute.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano sophomore midfielder Cris Tobar scored a hat trick against Eatonville in a 5-1 win on Wednesday in Montesano.

Montesano 5, Eatonville 1

Montesano sophomore midfielder Cristofer Tobar recorded a hat trick to lead the Bulldogs to a 5-1 1A Evergreen League victory over Eatonville on Wednesday at Montesano High School.

With just one game under its belt to that point, Montesano was faced with a daunting task of playing an important league game early in the season.

The Bulldogs used the opportunity to make a statement.

Monte quickly seized control of the game when junior forward Felix Romero scored goals in both the 14th and 23rd minutes, off assists from brothers Luke and Levi Clements, respectively.

Just before the half, Tobar scored to give the Bulldogs a comfortable three-goal lead heading into halftime.

After Eatonville scored a goal in the 68th minute, Tobar completed the hat trick with a goal in the 72nd minute followed by a penalty-kick goal in the 78th minute.

“It feels good to score three goals in a game, but it’s always a team effort,” Tobar said through an interpreter. “We communicated well and passed the ball all around this field.”

Monte head coach Fidel Sanchez said playing a league opponent so early in the season created a lot of questions entering the game.

“We didn’t know what Eatonville was going to have. We knew they graduated a lot of players last year, but I knew they had something left over. So there is always a question mark. How do we play them because we don’t know much about them,” Sanchez said. “We were able to counter and find the through balls. That was a good thing. And we were able to score early and that’s even a better thing.”

Eatonville 0 1 – 1

Montesano 3 2 – 5

Scoring

First half – 1, Montesano, Romero (Lu. Clements), 14th minute. 2, Montesano, Romero (Le. Clements), 23rd minute. 3, Montesano, Tobar, 40th minute.

Second half – 4, Eatonville, 68th minute. 5, Montesano, Tobar, 72nd minute. 6, Montesano, Tobar, 78th minute.

PREP TRACK & FIELD

North Beach sweeps team titles in season-opening meet

The North Beach Hyaks boys and girls track and field teams topped the standings at a 2B Pacific League meet on Thursday in Raymond.

The Hyaks depth proved to be the difference maker, according to head coach Peter Fry.

“We have numbers with a pretty good track program and lots of kids that come out,” Fry said. “We were able to win both meets on that, which is great for the kids.”

The Hyaks boys scored 166 points and were led by wins from junior Elton Rockey in the 110-meter hurdles (19.16), senior Wyeland Lomedico in the pole vault (9-6) and junior Sawyer Reither, who won the triple jump with a mark of 39-01, besting his previous personal best by 2-3 feet, according to Fry.

“That was a big highlight for us,” Fry said of Reither.

Host Raymond placed third overall with 76 points and was led by Austin Snodgrass, who won three events to open his senior season.

Snodgrass took first in the 100 (11.85), the shot put (47-07) and the discus (140-09).

Snodgrass also joined teammates Logan Frank, Isaac Schlueter and Chris Banker on the Seagulls’ victorious 4×100 relay team (46.83).

Banker also won an event for Raymond, clearing 6-2 to take first in the high jump.

In the girls competition, North Beach’s depth once again proved key.

Led by even wins from freshman Elka Cox and newcomer Jazmine Goldman, the Lady Hyaks scored 168 points, 70 points better than second-place Naselle.

Cox swept both hurdles races, placing first in the 100 hurdles with a time of 20.02 and in the 300 hurdles with a time of 55.91.

Cox teammed up with Vyolet Dodson, Macenzie Osborne-Hansen and Breeona Davis to win the 4×100 relay (58.93).

Osborne-Hansen, Piper Fleming-Engler, Anna Howe and Dodson won the 4×200 with a time of 2:13.22.

In her first varsity track and field competition, Goldman won the 1600 (6:44.68), the javelin (78-01) and placed second in the 800 (2:55.43).

“We haven’t really figured out what she’s even best at,” said Fry of Goldman. “But we are glad to have her.”

North Beach junior Kaylie Hendricks won the 3200 with a time of 16:04.98 while Osborne-Hansen placed first in the pole vault (6-6).

Full results available at athletic.net.

Hoquiam, Montesano open season at White Pass meet

The Hoquiam Grizzlies and Montesano Bulldogs opened their seasons in a seven-team league meet at White Pass High School on Thursday.

In the boys competition, Monte placed second behind first-place Eatonville with 147.5 points.

The Bulldogs got event wins from senior Jesse Anderson in the 800 (2:08.78); senior Benny Anderson in the 3200 (10:41.47); senior Gabe Bodwell in the discus (118-8), javelin (158-0) and high jump (5-10); and Pau Surinach in the pole vault (11-06).

Surinach, Caleb Bruland, Ashton McKinney and Jesse Anderson teamed up to place first in the 4×400 relay with a time of 3:55.25.

Hoquiam placed seventh in the boys team standings and was led by junior Oliver Bryson, who placed fifth in the 400 meters.

Monte’s girls also placed second behind Eatonville with 145 points.

Senior Mikayla Stanfield (200, 28.31), freshman Haley Schweppe (800, 2:30.65; 1600, 5:36.74), junior Willow Valentine (shot put, 30-10) and senior Elizabeth York (discus, 86-4) won events for Montesano.

Bulldogs Alayna Olson, Samantha Schweppe, Zoe Ray and Haley Schweppe combined to win the 4×400 with a time of 4:54.49.

Hoquiam scored 41 points to tie for fifth place with Morton-White Pass.

The Grizzlies were led by sophomore Haylee Jahner, who cleared eight feet to win the pole vault, and junior Katlyn Brodhead, who placed second with a time of 28.43 in the 200.

Full results available at athletic.net.

Other games

Prep Softball

Centralia 13, Hoquiam 1