W.F. West tied it up in the 65th minute but was unable to hang on, surrendering a goal with 30 seconds to play in a 2-1 non-league loss at home to Montesano on Tuesday night.
In a physical game played mostly in the middle third of the field, the Bearcats were outshot 8-5 by the Bulldogs.
“We struggled connecting passes and getting spacing,” W.F. West coach Allen Anderson said. “I don’t know if it had to do with being the first day of school.”
Montesano got on the scoreboard first with a goal by sophomore Mikayla Stanfield off a free kick in the 39th minute.
Junior Lena Fragner tied it up in the 65th minute off a throw-in from senior Elizabeth Patana to make it 1-1.
“It was nice to get that set-piece goal tonight,” Anderson said.
But with star junior captain Cam Sheets and captain defender Kaylynne Dowling both injured during the game, the Bearcats were unable to stave off the Bulldogs' attack. Stanfield scored her second goal of the night with 30 seconds left for the game-winner.
“(Montesano) has some great athletes,” Anderson said. “The rest of the girls stepped up when Sheets and Dowling went out. I’m really proud of them for that. It was a good learning experience and we’ll be alright moving forward.”
W.F. West (0-1) is scheduled to host league foe Shelton on Thursday, but the game could be moved to Friday or Saturday if there aren’t enough officials available Thursday, Anderson said.
Abby Severse scored two goals and Megan Letts one as Tenino pitched a 3-0 shutout to visiting Centralia in a season-opening, non-league matchup Tuesday night.
Tenino coach Kevin Schultz said the team had been working specifically on connecting passes in the back to draw out their opponents and go after them with their mid players.
Didn't take long for the game plan to work as senior wing Abby Severse scored on a cross from fellow wing Morgan Miner for the Beavers’ first score of the night in just the second minute.
Severse notched her second goal, unassisted, in the 34th minute and Letts knocked one in during the 38th minute off an assist by junior Kamryn Oliveira to give the Beavers a 3-0 cushion at the half and some breathing room.
“It took us a while to get our second one but we didn’t really let up and did a good job keeping pressure throughout,” Schultz said.
He praised junior keeper Trinity Tafoya for making three crucial saves. The Beavers got minutes from 23 players and outshot the Tigers 24-4.
“Credit to Centralia,” Schultz said. “They were dangerous, especially in counter attacks.”
All 18 Tigers saw playing time, and coach Henry Gallager said he saw some good things from his team in the second half.
“It was a good first game of the season,” Gallanger said. “We needed to have some wake-up calls in some areas.”
He commended the play of Olivai Gruginski, Bella Gomez and Hannah and Sarah Robbins.
“Both (Robbins sisters) created chances and had some chances,” Gallanger said. “That was a big improvement.”
The Tigers (0-1) host Mark Morris in non-league play on Thursday. Tenino (1-0) hosts Onalaska on Thursday in a non-league match.
Rochester held a 1-0 lead at the half from a dominant performance by keeper Staysha Fleutsch, but Elma erupted for a second-half scoring barrage to hand the Warriors a 4-1 home defeat in their season opener Tuesday night.
The Warriors took a 1-0 lead after freshman Yarexy Meija converted a penalty kick in the 26th minute.
Fleutsch, known for belting home runs for the Warriors softball team, was equally impressive in goal, pitching a first-half shutout with nine saves, many point blank, Rochester coach Ken Matthews said.
“Staysha was outstanding,” Matthews said. “Elma just kept pounding the ball at our defense the whole match and we missed a few matchups that cost us in the second half.
Fleutsch was named the Warriors’ Woman of the Match for her play.
Rochester (1-0) gets right back at it with a 6 p.m. home match against Black Hills (1-0) on Wednesday. The Wolves are coming off a 4-0 non-league victory over Class 3A River Ridge on Saturday.
