Toledo’s dynamic duo of Rose Dillon and Marina Smith each knocked in two goals as the Riverhawks opened their season with a convincing 4-0 victory at home over Hoquiam in non-league play Tuesday night.
It was a pleasing win to open the season for Toledo and its coach Noel Vazquez, and not just because it was over a larger Class 1A opponent. The Riverhawks were playing shorthanded with just 11 girls.
Toledo came out blasting, knocking a goal in during the first minute that was ultimately called back due to a Riverhawk player being offsides. But it offered a glimpse of what was coming.
Smith scored her first goal in the seventh minute from an assist by Vanessa Rodrigues and the Riverhawks were off and running.
Dillon notched her first goal in the 12th minute from an assist by Smith, then Smith tallied her second goal in the 65th minute off an assist by Dillon. The pair connected one final time when Dillon smashed one through the net in the 67th minute from an assist by Smith to close the scoring out at 4-0.
With just 13 total players on varsity, and two of those still waiting to join the team, Vazquez said the Riverhawks will have to learn to play multiple positions for a while until the team figures out its final formations.
One of the biggest switches so far has been to move Dillon from her usual forward position back to the midfield to help Smith.
“We’ll be playing musical chairs and every game will be different until we find out what sticks,” Vazquez said.
Keeper Daphnee Bybee recorded five saves on the night, none being any real threats from the Grizzlies’ offense, Vazquez said, as defenders Greenlee Clark and Paige Hill had very few mistakes on the back line and played excellent defense.
Toledo (1-0) travels to Ilwaco for a 6 p.m. match on Wednesday.
“Hopefully we’ll squeak out another win,” Vazquez said. “The girls have expectations of what they want to achieve and they're a mature enough team that I can let them do their thing.”
