ADNA — A defensive showdown between two state 2B teams in Toledo and Adna Monday night was decided by Riverhawks junior Onica Chase’s goal in the 32nd minute and a dominant defensive effort by the visitors.
Toledo shut out Adna 1-0 and held the Pirates to just two shots on goal. Pirates throw-ins and goal kicks were picked off by the Riverhawks all night, and Toledo made a living on the Adna side of the pitch.
After a few missed chances in the first half for Toledo, Chase’s fifth goal of the season came off a pass from Xtyn Norberg, and the kick squeezed through the outstretched arms of Adna keeper Lillian Montat and narrowly missed the top of the goalpost while hitting the back of the net.
“I tell them that if you don’t have a shot, try to play the way you’re facing. Xtyn saw Onica, and then chipped it high,” Toledo head coach Horst Malunat said. “It got bobbled, and I don’t know if it was the lights, but it went in for us.”
The Pirates, five days after putting up eight goals in a mercy-rule win against Ilwaco, saw their best opportunity to respond in the 74th minute when they made a rare trip near the 18-yard box but couldn’t convert. Toledo’s defense suffocated Adna all night; no pass was easy, and any shot attempt was wiped out by junior keeper Ivana Cabrera, who helped the Riverhawks earn their second clean sheet of the year.
Despite the zero on the scoreboard and playing without multiple key contributors, Adna head coach Patrick Richardson believes his squad played its most complete game of the young season against the Riverhawks.
“I thought we moved the ball well overall. We’re still working on a few things like connecting passes, but it’s probably the best we’ve been doing it so far this season,” he said. “Connecting a couple of those passes could change the game, but they just weren’t there today.”
Malunat likes what he’s seen from his young team as well. The Riverhawks’ win streak Monday extended from one to three in one day as they beat Adna but also saw Winlock forfeit its Wednesday night matchup. Toledo is now 3-0 in the Central 2B League and 5-3-1 overall.
“We’re starting to click, and hopefully we’ll have constant improvement and keep getting better,” Malunat said of his team. “I’m happy with our progress. It was a good battle and competitive game tonight.”
Adna falls to 1-5-2 and 1-1 in league play, and the Pirates will hit the road Wednesday night for a league matchup against Raymond-South Bend. Although the varsity match between Toledo and Winlock was forfeited, Winlock’s junior varsity team will square off against the Riverhawks’ bench Wednesday night. The full Riverhawks squad will next compete at Napavine Monday, Oct. 13 at 6 p.m.
