Elma’s girls soccer team scores two late goals to earn a draw with Shelton and the Pe Ell-Willapa Valley football team earned its first win of the season as we take a look at Saturday’s prep action.

GIRLS PREP SOCCER

Elma 3, Shelton 3

It wasn’t a win but it felt like a victory for the Elma Eagles on Saturday.

Elma scored two late goals to earn a draw against Shelton at Davis Field in Elma.

The Eagles (1-1-1) found themselves down 3-1 in the second half and rallied with a goal from Chloe Clark in the 63rd minute and Jillian Bieker in the 71st to complete the comeback.

Clark and Bieker both got on the score sheet with high shots that sneaked underneath the crossbar.

Shelton keeper Clairee Waylett appeared to make the save on Clark’s goal but couldn’t corral the ball as it crossed the goal line after Waylett got her outstretched fingertips on it.

The Eagles snatched a tie from the jaws of defeat despite dealing with several injuries and having to rely on junior varsity players to fill the void.

Elma head coach Evan Valentine was pleased with the result under the circumstances.

“I’m really, really proud of them. Sometimes you just do what you have to do to get a result,” he said. “I think that’ll go a long ways in helping the spirit of the team.”

Hasani Grayson | Grays Harbor News Group Elma’s Emily Newberry, left, tries to get the ball away from Shelton’s Brooklyn McMillin in the second half of game on Saturday afternoon at Davis Field in Elma.

The Elma coaching staff will be paying close attention to the Kaya Aiken‘s injury in the coming days. The senior defender went down midway through the first half with an apparent injury to her left ankle.

Valentine said he isn’t yet sure how severe the injury is.

With players out of action, Grace Koonrad and Carly Gay both got significant minutes in the second half.

Valentine said he left the game feeling better about the depth on his bench and in the junior varsity ranks.

“I was really happy with the junior varsity girls that stepped up. They weren’t even really prepared to do it and they did a great job, so I’m happy with them.”

Despite having to fight back from down two goals in the second half, Elma was the first team to get on the board early in the first half.

Freshman Grace Spencer struck first in the third minute for the first varsity goal of her career.

Shelton Responded with a goal from Anna Barkman who took advantage of the space in front of her, went on a run down the middle of the field and ripped a shot from about 10 yards into the box to beat Eagles keeper Paige Knutson in the 23rd minute.

With scored tied at a goal apiece, Shelton pulled ahead with another Barkman goal, this time coming off of a rebound that she corralled to catch the keeper and defenders out of position as she took advantage of an open net in 35th minute.

Elma keeper Paige Knutson makes a save on a close-range shot from Sheton’s Victoria Silverman in the first half of game on Saturday afternoon at Davis Field in Elma. (Hasani Grayson | Grays Harbor News Group)

The Highclimbers took what appeared to be a commanding 3-1 lead in the second half when Emma Miller received a pass deep in the box as Knutson was beat to her left as she had the tough task of accounting for two forwards at once in the 59th minute.

Elma needed two late goals to erase that deficit and avoid the loss and will now look forward to a road match against Tumwater on Tuesday.

In his postgame talk with his team Valentine encouraged his players to rest for what was left of the weekend in the hopes his players can return to the pitch against the Thunderbirds at 7 p.m..

Valentine said he isn’t thinking too much about X’s and O’s ahead of Tuesday’s match.

“Improving health is my main concern right now,” he said.

Shelton 2 1 — 3

Elma 1 2 — 3

Top Players: Shelton — Barkman (2 G, 23rd minute and 35th minute); Elma — Bieker (G, 71st minute), Spencer (3rd minute), Clark (63rd minute)

Pe Ell Willapa Valley 46, Concrete 12

Pe Ell-Willapa Valley made up for last week’s lopsided loss with a dominant 46-12 victory over Concrete on the road on Saturday.

The Titans (1-1) got a big game from Max Smith, who rushed for 148 yards on 12 carries while finding the endzone four times against the Lions.

Peter Hamilton was also solid for the Titans and got the scoring started with 5-yard touchdown run at 10:31 of the first quarter to put PWV up 7-0 on the team’s first possession of the game.

Kollin Jurek then made a splash on special teams two minutes later with a 50-yard punt return for a touchdown with 8:31 left in the opening frame to push the lead to 14-0.

Smith ran for two more touchdowns before the end of the first quarter to give the Titans a commanding 27-0 lead.

PWV head coach Josh Fluke said offensive play was key to setting the tone in the first half.

“We just went back to our bread and butter. We threw a couple of short passes, but otherwise we just ran the ball. The offensive line did excellent, they made holes you could drive trucks through for our backs.”

The Pe Ell-Willapa Valley run game succeeded despite a injury to Peter Hamilton, who left the game in the first quarter. His status for next week’s game is uncertain.

The Titans will be back at home for a matchup with Raymond at 7 p.m. on Friday.

PWV 27 6 7 6 — 46

Concrete 0 0 6 6 — 12

Leading Rusher: Smith (12-148, 4 TD)

Leading Passer: Logan Walker (3-7-53)

PREP CROSS COUNTRY

Dylan Todd wins Ocosta Invitational

Ocosta’s Dylan Todd timed his kick perfectly to pass Mark Morris’ Eric Bauman to win the Ocosta Invitational on Saturday in Westport.

Todd, who finished with a time of 16:08, shadowed Bauman for most of the 2.95-mile race before making a move in the final third-mile. Once Bauman was in his rear-view mirror, Todd cruised to the victory with what Ocosta head coach Aaron Anderson dubbed an impressive performance.

“He just looked great,” Anderson said of Todd. “For him being a sophomore and finishing that strong, it was impressive to watch.”

Todd wasn’t the only Ocosta runner with a solid showing on Saturday as Anderson also noted brothers Matthew and William Idso for a strong showing early in the season.

Matthew Idso placed 10th with a time of 18:07 followed by William Idso in 11th with a time of 18:09.

“My top three boys ran 1:40 faster than their times last season, which is incredible,” Anderson said of Todd and the Idso brothers. “It’s going to be fun to watch those three kids this season.”

Hoquiam freshman Timmy Higgins was the only other Twin Harbors area athlete to place in the top 10, finishing sixth with a time of 17:23.

Elma’s Tyler Bristow finished 12th in the 28-man field with a time of 18:26.

In the girls race, Forks’ Madelyn Archibald took the top spot with a time of 21:22.59.

Ocosta’s Natalie Cain placed second with a time of 21:53.80.

Hoquiam freshman Macie German placed fourth with a 22:01.

Other local athletes to place in the top 10 were Elma’s Autumn Sayres (24:01, 9th) and Raymond’s Genevieve Sarich (24:01.29, 10th).

For full results, visit www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/Results/Meet.aspx?Meet=157567&show=all.

— Ryan Sparks, Grays Harbor News Group