The Aberdeen cross country team opened its season with a win over Shelton as we review prep sports events on the Harbor.

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PREP CROSS COUNTRY

Led by Nelson and Haggard, Aberdeen downs Shelton

Aberdeen’s boys and girls cross country teams defeated Shelton on Wednesday at the Mason County Recreation Area in Shelton.

Aberdeen’s boys team won 17-44, led by senior Henry Nelson (15:57.60), freshman Cecil Gumaelius (17:09.52) and senior Jacob Hallak (17:39.95), who finished 1-2-3, respectively, in the boys 3-mile race.

Bobcats Toby Nelson (18:50.43), William Sharp (18:51.76) and Ezekiel Olson (18:53.57) finished 5-6-7, with teammate Johnathon Watkins (19:24.61, 10th) rounding out the top 10.

The girls race was won by Aberdeen sophomore Ailyn Haggard with a time of 19:19.14.

Aberdeen’s Serenity Allread (25:21.82, 5th), Anica Reimer (25:50.06, 6th), Taylor Hatton (27:28.77, 7th) and Ines Horcajada (27:44.89, 8th) also placed for a Bobcats team that finished with 15 points.

Aberdeen head coach Steve Reed said he was impressed with the low scores so early in the season, particularly Nelson, who was one of several Bobcats to post low times on Wednesday.

“Last year at this point, he ran 16:54 and today he ran 15:57, so he’s almost a full minute faster this year in his first race,” Reed said. “So I’m pretty excited about that, and obviously, the other kids too.”

Aberdeen will compete at the PLU Invitational at the PLU Meadows Disc Golf Course on Saturday in Tacoma.

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GIRLS PREP SOCCER

Ocosta 12, Ilwaco 0

Ocosta dominated from start to finish in a 12-0 win over Ilwaco on Wednesday in Westport.

The Wildcats (4-0 overall) quickly took a multi-goal lead thanks in large part to its talented midfield and the scoring prowess of freshman forward Bristol Towle, who had a natural hat trick 16 minutes into the game and added a fourth goal off an assist by midfielder Kylee Denny in the 35th minute.

A goal by Ocosta’s Penny Park off another Denny assist put the Wildcats up 5-0 at halftime.

“It was the great play of our midfielders and defense that didn’t allow the ball to get past the midfield very often this evening,” Ocosta head coach Rissy Ness said. “My challenge to the girls tonight was to use the entire field with their passes. They went as far as dropping the ball to our goalie quite a few times to get her involved in the game.”

Ocosta added seven more goals in the second half, with Scarlett Nelson, Denny, Gabby Ness, Joanah Rosander and Kennedy Reynolds scoring goals.

Denny and Brizeyda Ayala Rios had two assists apiece in the game while keeper Amelia Saunders earned her fourth straight shutout to start the season.

Ocosta faces Gig Harbor at 4 p.m. on Tuesday at Gig Harbor High School.

Ilwaco 0 0 – 0

Ocosta 5 7 – 12

Scoring

First half – 1, Ocosta, Towle (Denny), 7th minute. 2, Ocosta, Towle (Ayala Rios), 12th minute. 3, Ocosta, Towle, 16th minute. 4, Ocosta, Towle (Denny), 35th minute. 5, Ocosta, Park (Denny), 38th minute.

Second half – 6, Ocosta, Park. 7, Ocosta, Nelson, 46th minute. 8, Ocosta, Denny, 48th minute. 9, Ocosta, Ness (Towle), 51st minute. 10, Ocosta, Ness (Reynolds), 58th minute. 11, Ocosta, Rosander, 69th minute. 12, Ocosta, Reynolds (Ayala Rios), 74th minute.

Montesano 2, Centralia 1

One day after a tough last-minute loss, the Montesano Bulldogs responded with a 2-1 victory over Centralia on Tuesday at Centralia High School.

Returning to the pitch one day after suffering a 1-0 loss at home to Bellevue Christian on a stoppage-time goal, Monte (3-2) performed much better on Tuesday, according to head coach Fidel Sanchez.

“We actually had the ball most of the night and completed many, many passes. We had a lot of possession and a lot of attack,” he said.

Playing against a defensive-minded Tigers team that looked to counter-attack, the Bulldogs found the back of the net when sophomore forward Jaelyn Butterfield scored off an assist from freshman midfielder Ashley Hill in the 31st minute.

Butterfield scored her second of the game to put Monte up 2-0 in the 60th minute.

“Our girls figured out how to find the space and attack well,” Sanchez said. “Pretty good performance from our girls.”

The Bulldogs defense held firm until the 76th minute when Ana Blankenship scored off a free kick from Cyndal Sills.

Monte goal keeper Izzie Taylor made four saves in picking up the victory.

The Bulldogs’ tough non-league schedule continues with a matchup against state-runner up Klahowya at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday in Montesano.

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PREP VOLLEYBALL

Ocosta 3, Wishkah Valley 0

Ocosta swept Wishkah Valley in straight sets on Wednesday in Westport.

The Wildcats (2-1) won 25-6, 25-13 and 25-12 and were led by junior middle hitter Anna Davis with 10 kills.

Setters Ava Tucker and Millie Tucker had eight assists apiece for the Wildcats while sophomore outside hitter Ava Weimar came off the bench to go 5 for 5 in service and “brought great energy to the team tonight,” according to Wildcats head coach Erin Snider.

Wishkah Valley 6 13 12 – 0

Ocosta 25 25 25 – 3

Willapa Valley 3, Naselle 2

Willapa Valley rallied after losing the fourth set to defeat Naselle 3-2 on Tuesday at Naselle High School.

The Vikings (4-0) led 2-1 after grounding the Comets 25-23 in the third set.

But Willapa Valley let the fourth set get away from them, losing 25-19 to set up a fifth and final set.

“Going five sets is challenging. Most times, it’s the team that comes out with the most momentum right away (that wins it),” Vikings head coach Chelsea Kempton said. “I was a little worried we wouldn’t have that dropping the fourth set, but I have to credit the team for moving past their mistakes and just getting back to work.”

The Comets ran out of steam in the fifth set and Valley took advantage, outscoring Naselle 15-4 to earn the tough road victory.

“Naselle runs a solid program and is well coached, it’s a really tough atmosphere to compete in. We knew it would be a tight, hard-fought match and that’s exactly what it was,” Kempton said. “I was happy with our momentum overall, we had to adjust early based on a big net presence from Naselle. I feel we adjusted well and started reading their hitting over the next couple rallies. … (The Vikings) fixed the little things and that made a big difference. We see things that need work, and we’ll work hard to keep making improvements and build team chemistry.”

Junior setter Rilyn Channell led Valley with eight assists for a Willapa Valley team that had contributions from multiple players, including Jillian Hodel (3 kills, 9 digs) and Sam Sheary (5 digs, 5 assists).

Valley takes on Taholah at 7 p.m. Thursday in Menlo.

Willapa Valley 21 25 25 19 15 – 3

Naselle 25 21 23 25 4 – 2

Leading players: WV – Hurley (4 kills, 2 digs, 2 blocks); Hodel (3 kills, 9 digs); Barnum (3 kills); Borden (3 kills, 4 blocks); Lynch (2 kills); Matlock (2 kills, 2 digs, 6 assists); Channell (2 kills, 4 digs, 8 assists, block); Sheary (5 digs, 5 assists).